Recently, a group of budding cyclists from Harvey, Broome and Darwin, named Chasing Rabbits, was one of 63 teams to complete the 660 kms of the Gibb River Challenge. It was hot, it was dusty, the road was corrugated, rough, and sometimes sandy, but the arrival at El Questro Station, and completion of the Gibb River Challenge, gave the Chasing Rabbits team: Ben Saunders, Allan Hunt, Doug Buist, Grant Hargreaves, Nick Hamer and Dean Maughan, a great deal of satisfaction.
‘We actually had a great time, enjoying the challenge and the social comradeship associated with travelling up the Gibb River Road with 400 other “Gibbsters”, as we became known’, commented Dean.
While there was a great deal of personal satisfaction gained from the Challenge, the team found that hearing the presentation from the members of the Kyle Andrews Foundation (KAF), quickly helped them all to know WHY they were doing the Challenge. The KAF has been around for 24 years and, as this year’s Gibb River Challenge beneficiary, they shared what they have achieved in this time and what their plans are for the future with the ride participants. During the presentation, the riders also heard from people, in their late teens and early 20s, who had been serious cancer sufferers as children, who were able to share, first hand, the positive impact that the KAF had made to their lives. One, in particular, was the mother of an 11 year old who had cancer and lost both kidneys, and required daily 12 hour dialysis. Her child survived the cancer and has been able to successfully receive one of her kidneys. She explained how the KAF, and their camps in Broome, had helped her child to connect with other children experiencing serious cancer-related illnesses, and recognised the enormous change KAF had made to her child’s wellbeing.
The Gibb riders also learnt about the accommodation facility that the KAF has established in Perth, providing families from the country with somewhere to stay when children need to undergo treatment in Perth. KAF also shared their plans to build accommodation facilities on a block of beach-side land on “The Holy Mile”, south of Busselton. Everything was ready to start the construction of the first accommodation buildings; all that was needed was funds and workers to make it happen.
The Gibb River Challenge, collectively, raised an amazing $540,000 plus, which ensured that phase one of the accommodation project is completed. The Gibb participants were thrilled to hear this news from the Chairman of the KAF.
The Chasing Rabbits team shared this news, and stories of their trek, with their supporters, saying every person who generously donated made a REAL DIFFERENCE. Initially, the team set themselves a lofty target of raising $25,000, and were thrilled to surpass that, raising $28,015. This humble team from Harvey, Broome and Darwin managed to raise the third largest amount. It certainly made the bruised and chafed bodies feel worthwhile!
Chasing Rabbits team co-ordinator, Dean Maughan, expressed sincere thanks to all those supporters, including businesses such as Alcoa and Milne AgriGroup, and over 200 friends, families and businesses. Each donation made a real difference to children and families impacted by cancer.
