Mackay cyclists peddle up support for charity funds
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MORE than 700 riders went the extra mile to make a difference for three Mackay based charities.
River2Reef organiser Evan Corry said the riders took part in the 10 year anniversary event in September.
He said the purpose of the ride was to raise funds – an ambition well and truly reached with $80,000 raised for three charities.
“Raising $80,000 through this year’s event takes the total funds raised over 10 years to $600,000 for local charities,” Mr Corry said.
He said the charities would benefit from the combined efforts of both the Mackay cycling community and the event’s naming sponsor, Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland.
Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan, RACQ CQ Rescue and Mackay and District Sporting Wheelies were the charities to receive the money.
“We are proud to have delivered this event with the help of Hand Heart Pocket, to ensure funding for our valuable local charities and to help boost morale in the community at a time where it was needed more than ever,” Mr Corry said.
Hand Heart Pocket provided $25,000 towards the 2020 ride and gave $50,000 to help start the fundraising effort.
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The charity that focus on men’s mental and physical health and joined the board for the charity ride as the naming rights sponsor.
Hand Heart Pocket acting CEO Robert Qualtrough said the Freemason charity appreciated the community’s response to the event.
“As soon as the organisers were given the green light to proceed with a modified COVID-safe event, they moved quickly to rally the community and managed to achieve a very respectable turn out given what little time they had to pull everything together,” Mr Qualtrough said.
“We are proud to have stood by the event and to have helped raise funds to further the work of the three local charities here in the broader Mackay region.
“Supporting families and communities is part of our philanthropic focus which is what these three charities embody.
“Congratulations and we look forward to next year’s event.”
Visit River2Reef for more information.
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