Finding a cure for cancer is a cause close to Gerry Bateman’s heart.
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“I have seen too many people close to me affected by cancer,” she said.
She lost her brother, Bendigo inspector and National Police Service Medal recipient Gerry Rudkins, to the disease in 2012 and her mother Pat Rudkins in 1996.
“Even in the last couple of weeks, I’ve had a colleague at one of the other branches pass away – he was 42 – and another friend, who was 47,” the Commonwealth Bank Bendigo branch manager said.
“It is heartbreaking to watch loved ones suffer so much and ultimately lose their battle.”
On April 29, Ms Bateman will embark on the Tour de Cure as a member of the support crew.
The ten day signature cycle tour from Brisbane to Sydney raises money and awareness for finding a cure for cancer.
Mrs Bateman has already achieved her goal of contributing $10,000 to the overall effort.
Anything more she can add will be a bonus.
The Tour de Cure, inspired by the Tour de France, has been running since 2007 and has raised more than $20 million; funded more than 240 cancer research, support and prevention projects; and led to 18 cancer breakthroughs.
Yet Mrs Bateman said many of the people she had spoken to had not heard of it.
“I spoke to a customer on Tuesday who I’ve known for years and years… he said he had never heard of it and said, ‘Here’s $100’,” she said.
She has been part of the support crew for two years, having first heard of it through work.
The Commonwealth Bank is one of the Tour de Cure’s corporate partners.
Last year, Mrs Bateman was on the hydration team, ensuring the riders were fed and watered.
This year, she will be the lead car navigator of a group of about 30 cyclists.
“It’s emotionally and physically draining, but an amazing experience,” she said.
“Everyone is making a sacrifice in some way.”
More than 200 riders, support crew and corporate partners are involved in the 1518 kilometre event, which also has an educational component.
Tour de Cure chief executive officer Matt Clarke said one in three cancers was preventable.
“We want to ensure all Australians are aware of this and know what to do to help prevent cancer,” he said.
The tour aims to inspire more than 5000 children to, ‘Be fit, be healthy, be happy’.
It will also make donations of $10,000 to each of the nine communities it will stop in along the way for cancer support projects.
Mrs Bateman said people could donate via the Tour de Cure website and follow the journey on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.