The Eastern 80 Charity Bike Ride has announced its 2026 ambassador as it gears up for another year of riding for a special cause.
Deni Walker was selected for this year’s fundraiser for the Good Friday Appeal where she’ll act as the “face of the event” due to her experience as a young girl at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Organised by Warburton local Norm Orr, the Eastern 80 is an annual bike ride fundraiser which sees riders fill the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail one day of the year.
The event has come a long way since its inception in 2015 and has raised a whopping $115,000 over the past decade, helping fund the Royal Children’s Hospital to deliver crucial care.
Ms Walker, who is the coach and president of the Warby Weapons Basketball Club, said she was honoured to have been selected as the ambassador as it was a cause close to her heart.
“It’s actually really special. It’s hard to know, particularly beyond finance, how to give back and I feel really grateful to have this opportunity,” Ms Walker said.
Ms Walker was born with several holes in her heart which essentially impacted every facet of her life.
“Because of how hard my heart had to work to kind of compensate for all of that, my heart became enlarged which meant that old blood and new blood would get mixed up with each other.
“I wasn’t getting enough fresh oxygen through my body, so I was getting very tired. Things like exerting myself in the everyday activities of being a little girl was too much for my body to hold.
“Even being excited about being asked to a birthday party was too much for my body to handle,” Ms Walker said.
She wasn’t able to get surgery until she’d grown old enough for her body to withstand the procedure, and at three-years-old, she was the youngest Victorian at the time to receive the surgery.
“I had a plaque in my name in the wing where I had my surgery,” she said.
The basketball coach is almost completely free of any complications, save for some extra caution if she suffers any open wounds.
She called it an honour to embody the story and cause the Eastern 80 is raising money for.
“That honour of being that person on the day to embody a story that people can directly tie a meaning to today’s achievements, I think it’s pretty special.”
Taking place on 21 February at 7.30am, the Eastern 80 is sure to attract hundreds – if not thousands – of participants and onlookers.
It begins at Cog Cafe in Warburton and an 80 kilometre and 50km riding options are available, while a nine kilometre walk can also be completed. A 30km mountain biking option is also on offer.
Mr Orr said this year’s event will incorporate the new Warburton Bike Park.
“This year one of our local bike shops is going to line up some mountain bike riders so we can have a mountain bike section,” Mr Orr said.
“So that is new, we’re hoping they’ll sign up with us just to help us raise another good total.”
Entrants to the bike ride pay $100 which goes towards the fundraiser, but Mr Orr said there were payment plans in place for those who can’t afford the fee upfront.
“If say for argument’s sake somebody hasn’t got the $100, if they can get five members of their family to give them $20, I can write out the tax receipt for them.
“So that shares the burden,” Mr Orr said.
The Alpine Hotel has reserved an area for after-ride celebrations, which will see live music, face painting for the kids, lunch and a raffle for the riders, walkers and event supporters.
To register for the event, visit trybooking.com/DGATE or call Norm Orr on 0408 592 504.
