THE wet weather may have played havoc with Sue Jogever’s e-bike but it failed to dampen the spirits of the Port Macquarie contingent in this year’s Tour de Rocks charity ride.
Sue and her husband Paul were joined on the three-day trek by well-known local athletes Melinda Cockshutt, her son James, and brother Murray.
They were all part of Team Faircloth and Reynolds from Coffs Harbour.
“We love being part of the Tour de Rocks ride as it is an amazing community of like-minded people who are all working together to raise valuable funds for cancer research,” Sue told News Of The Area.
Around 400 riders set off from Armidale on 24 April, bound for Woolgoolga Beach via 270kms of wet and muddy roads.
“The three day ride was gruelling, with the distance on Day One 97kms,” Sue said.
“And then the elevation, with all those hills!”
In fact, Paul Jogever estimates that they climbed 4302 vertical metres.
“The Tour de Rocks ride was a personal goal,” he posted. “[It was] an awesome three days. Challenging and exhausting but worth it for the experience – plus donating to cancer research.”
Sue describes the scenery as they passed through Ebor, Hernani, Ulong and then Woolgoolga as “spectacular”.
“From wide open plains, creek crossings, rainforests, waterfalls and muddy downhills,” she said.
“It was definitely challenging, however it is nothing compared to the courage that our loved ones have to go through with their cancer journey, and you can reflect on this while you are peddling up those hills.”
This year’s ride was Sue’s second and Melinda’s third.
While the amount raised is still being tallied, last year’s riders contributed $372,050 to the Tour de Rocks’ 15-year total of $2.5m for cancer awareness, cure research, and prevention.
Sue said the Port Macquarie team is “extremely grateful for all the volunteers, sponsors, and local businesses that contributed to the success of this years’ event”.
As soon as they returned, Melinda was back to helping with preparations for Ironman Port Macquarie while the Faircloth and Reynolds team was jumping back in the saddle for the Woolies on Wheels Tour de Cure ride from Sutherland to Bella Vista, via Kiama, between 4-6 May.
By Sue STEPHENSON
