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Pushing the pedals for a worthy cause

June 16, 2004

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A computer specialist at the University of New England is booting up for a mountain-bike bash for which he hopes to raise $5000 for charity.

Mr Ross Dobson, a senior IT Project Officer, hopes to bicycle about 600km in just under a week, from Lightning Ridge in the far west of NSW to Tamworth.

He is one of about 50 other cyclists taking part in Westpac Rescue Service’s annual Mountain Bike Bash, which starts on Friday 17 September.

“I took up the challenge to take part in the charity bike bash two years ago, when cyclists took a week to ride from Tamworth through to Nundle, Hanging Rock, Walcha, Uralla, Inverell, Baradine and Bendemeer” Mr Dobson said.

In this, the fourth year of the mountain-bike bash, participants will take to the road and country tracks from Lightning Ridge, aiming to cycle about 600km in a week to Tamworth, passing through the towns of Collarenebri, Burren Junction, Wee Waa, Narrabri, Barraba and Manilla.

“We hope to travel around 100km a day,” Mr Dobson said.

“While some participants sleep out, most of us tuck into a hotel overnight, a feature of this year’s bash is an overnight camp at Mt Kaputar.” His bike is a 27-gear, full-suspension mountain bike, capable of travelling through gullies as well as tackling the bitumen.

“Part of last year’s ride involved us cycling just on 130km, in one day, through the Pilliga State Forest,” Mr Dobson said.

This year, Mr Dobson hopes to personally raise $5000 towards the Westpac Rescue Service and UNE colleagues across campus have pledged their support.

Safety and Security Manager Col McCallum has taken out gold sponsorship ($1000) of Mr Dobson’s ride, on behalf of UNEWISE. Said Mr McCallum: “As Safety and Security Manager at UNE a number of students have required urgent medical assistance and it is a great comfort to know the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is there in support.”

Others who have delved into their pockets include Sport UNE with silver sponsorship and the UNE Union.

The Westpac Helicopter is based in Tamworth servicing the north west of NSW, including Armidale and the New England area.

Overall, the cyclists this year hope to raise $40,000 for the service.

Mr Dobson is hopeful more colleagues will come forward and sponsor him.

“It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to keep this rescue helicopter viable. It’s a great cause and I hope people can match the generosity of the likes of Col McCallum and Sport UNE,” Mr Dobson said.

For more information, or to help sponsor the event, phone Mr Dobson on 6773 5034 or Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779.

Photographs are available on request.

Posted by Lydia Roberts at June 16, 2004 11:37 AM