West Australians give record amount to Australia’s biggest charity ride
A record $8,551,331 has been raised for WA cancer research by the nation’s biggest charity bike ride, the MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research.
The money will go to Perth’s Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research to support the investigation into the hardest to treat cancers.
1500 riders set off from Optus Stadium this morning on a 200km ride to Mandurah and back over the weekend.
Director of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Professor Peter Leedman AO said vital new cancer research will be able to go ahead because of the funds raised by the Ride.
“This will make a substantial difference to our cancer research at the Harry Perkins Institute.
“We will be able to attract and retain even more of the best scientists from across the globe and support them with sophisticated equipment to enable further discoveries about cancer and help develop new treatments,” he said.
Rider and cancer survivor Kane Blackburn raised more than $75,000 for this year’s event.
“I did my first ride in 2016, 6 months after getting out of hospital after a receiving a radical procedure, a stem cell transplant to treat my blood cancer. The survival rate for this type of cancer was 30%.
“Our family has lost several members to cancer, including most recently, my father in March this year. I never expected we’d bond over cancer stories.
“In a way this Ride saved our family. It was something for us to rally around. Most don’t even like riding, but it’s been a focal point to funnel our energy.
“It gives us optimism that in the future cancers will be prevented, that cures and treatments will be developed and refined and it gives us comfort that we are doing something for others after losing the people we love. This is why I ride,” he said.
Mining companies MACA, Mineral Resources and WesTrac provided equipment and assistance with logistics to reduce the costs of the event and maximise the funds directed to cancer research.
In the 11 years of the ride over $55m has been raised for cancer research at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.
