The Rotary Club of Boronia continued its long-term involvement with this annual bicycle ride fundraising event in 2020. Club members were again heavily involved with both organisation of and active participation in the event.
The 2020 Ride for Research in support of Australian Rotary Health, billed as the “Silos, Plains, Lakes and Art Tour“, began its epic journey from Lake Bolac to Lake Daylesford with the spectre of Covid-19 hanging over it. Right up until the night before we were not sure it would go ahead, but luckily the event was able to take place just before more severe restrictions were put into place.
The 2020 Ride was one of the most highly subscribed rides in recent years, with 32 riders and 11 support crew travelling more than 540 kilometres over 6 days, from 15th to 20th March. Starting at Lake Bolac, the ride took the participants on a tour through the vast wheat plains of Western Victoria, past the painted silos at Rupanyup, Sheep Hills, Brim, Lascelles and Patchewollock, and back through gold country to finish at Lake Daylesford.
Ride sponsorship and other donations resulted in more than $53,000 being raised by this year’s ride. This amount the total amount contributed to Australian Rotary Health by the ride over the last 34 years to more that $1,175,000.
The funds raised by the ride this year will again be directed in support of the Australian Rotary Health “Rob Henry Memorial PHD Scholarship” for Cancer Research. Rob, a member of the Rotary Club of Boronia, was instrumental in organising this annual ride event for some 24 years.
