By KATH GANNAWAY
A 100 kilometre bike ride along the Warburton Trail on Saturday 20 February aims to raise $10,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal.
The Warburton Trail Triple Century is being run by the Warburton Advancement League with local cycling enthusiast and former Warburton post master Norm Orr organising the event.
The aim is to have 100 riders each raising $100 towards their ride.
The event is gaining momentum with entry numbers climbing each week and organisations including Upper Yarra Rotary and the Warburton CFA coming on board.
Mr Orr said he watched the RCH Easter Appeal each year and was inspired to add to Warburton’s profile.
“Warburton is a reasonably sized town and the fire brigade do pretty much all of the fund-raising up here, but being volunteers, they’ve not only got to collect, they have to count it,” Mr Orr explained.
He said Warburton often didn’t get on the Appeal board until late in the night.
“If we can give them some sort of help, put something on the board to start off with and help kick it along, that would a good thing,” he said.
Plans are underway to involve the local schools in a smaller ride and there will be a farmers’ market at Warburton.
Mr Orr said although it was a fair ride, and some training was recommended, it was also very much being promoted as a social event where groups of family and friends, clubs or other organisations could ride together, start with breakfast at a local care, or lunch along the way and make a day of it.
“It may not sound like it, but 100ks can be a fun thing on the trail with people riding with each other, helping each other and keeping their minds off the distance,” Mr Orr said.
People are already signed up for the ride, including Cr Jim Child while Casey MP Tony Smith made a donation. The organising group is suggesting people get dressed with a theme or colours to identify their ‘teams’.
The event will start at the Seville Carriage Cafe at 7.30am, ride to Warburton, back down to Lilydale and then back to the finish at Warburton.
There will be alternative rides on the day, by donation, for those who want to participate, but may not be up to the distance.
To register, click here, or phone Norm Orr on 0408 592 504.
