By Jen Gourley
A group of dedicated emergency services staff have swapped their regular uniforms and fire helmets for Lycra and bike helmets and are taking to the road for a very worthy cause.
About 32 riders and 17 crew members are embarking on a charity ride called Bike 4 Burns. Now in its sixteenth year, Bike 4 Burns raises money for the Children’s Hospital Foundation for paediatric burn technology research and development.
The charity ride began back in 2007 with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services staff and over the years other emergency services staff have joined in, raising around $800,000 through their pedalling power and their passion.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) about 32 riders and 17 crew will start their 725km journey from Gladstone with their first destination being Biloela.
The riders, who will be accompanied by support vehicles including a fire truck, hope to arrive in Bilo around 3pm. They will be camping overnight at Redeemer Lutheran College’s sporting complex “Banksia Place” but first they will head to Biloela Hotel around 6.30pm for dinner.
Everyone is invited to come along to the hotel to say hello and spend some time with the riders and crew.
Rick Chambers, a firefighter with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in Brisbane, will be one of these people swapping the seat of a fire truck for the seat of a bike.
He said people would be very welcome to drop into Biloela Hotel tomorrow night.
“We’re always happy to have a chat and meet the locals and say hello,” he said.
He explained that they took donation tins with them on their travels and they would have one with them at Biloela Hotel if anyone would like to contribute to this fantastic cause.
“If anybody’s kind enough to drop us a donation that will definitely be gratefully accepted,” Rick said.
If you’re inspired by these riders and their mission to improve the lives and outcomes of young burn victims, you can donate by stopping by Biloela Hotel tomorrow night or you can donate online at https://fundraise.childrens.org.au/event/bike4burns/home.
You can also be part of Bike for Burns by signing up to ride virtually and help raise funds by completing 725km in September 2022 at a location of your choice. Go to Bike4Burns (childrens.org.au) for more information.
This year’s Bike 4 Burns event, which was planned to take place in May but was postponed due to a major weather event, will see the riders follow this route over the next six days:
Gladstone to Biloela – 121km
Biloela to Monto – 93km
Monto to Gayndah – 125km
Gayndah to Goomeri – 101kms
Goomeri to Blackbutt – 95km
Blackbutt to Eaton’s Hill – 140km
Eaton’s Hill to Kedron – 40km.
