Australia’s biggest charity bike ride leaves Optus Stadium in two-day 200km event.
A record 1,550 riders are on the road after heading off from Optus Stadium at 7am this morning in Australia’s biggest charity ride, the MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research.
The 200km ride to Mandurah and back supports cancer research at Perth’s Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, and so far this year it has raised a record $6.9m.
Director of the Perkins Institute, Professor Peter Leedman AO said vital new cancer research will go ahead because of the funds raised in this 10th anniversary year of the event.
“Cancer research, drug development and clinical trials of new treatments are essential particularly as 60 percent of cancers don’t respond fully to current methods.
“The record amount raised by more than 1,550 riders will help deliver cancer breakthroughs.
“For patients with hard-to-treat cancers such as triple negative breast cancer, drug resistant melanoma, pancreatic and liver cancers or brain tumours, new research discoveries are the only way to make cancer a non-lethal disease.
“With one in two Australian men and one in three Australian women diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85, we know that investment in cancer research is critical,” he said.
In the ten years of the ride nearly $50m has been raised for cancer research.
Title sponsor MACA has raised more than $18m over the history of the ride and has the largest team of riders with 350 riders on the road this year.
“Our employees, our community of friends and family members, have all been personally impacted by cancer and it is a continued honour to support the Harry Perkins Institute as they advance medical research in order to better the lives of cancer patients,” said Geoff Baker, Executive Director, MACA.
A corporate charitable alliance of MACA Ltd, Mineral Resources Ltd and WesTrac Pty Ltd was formed this year to reduce costs associated with the ride event. Each will provide infrastructure and logistics support either directly or indirectly by encouraging suppliers to contribute to the MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research.
The route can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3mNl39m
Or at the Ride website: https://www.cancer200.org.au/the-ride/the-route
Donations can still be made by visiting www.cancer200.org.au
