Australian Rotarians embark on seven-month bike ride

Australian Rotarians journey 11,200 miles (18,000 kilometers) around Australia to raise awareness of Rotary, Australian Rotary Health and the need for mental illness research funds.  The seven-month ride is the longest organized bike ride in Australia’s history.

The Great Australian Bike Ride is sponsored by Australian Rotary Health, which raises money and provides grants to medical and mental health research projects.

Over 100 participants, who will ride one or more of the nine stages of the course, departed from Melbourne on March 21 and will ride counterclockwise, stopping in the capital cities of each of Australia’s states and territories before arriving back in Melbourne on Oct. 10.  Five of the riders plan to bike the entire route.

“We hope to have major fundraising events in the capital cities, and large attendances at these would ensure their success,” says Dick White, chair of the event.

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