FOUR Bendigo residents have together raised more than $100,000 for cancer prevention, research and care projects.
Scott Eldridge, Alex Gartmann, Paul Dalton and Gerry Bateman last month embarked on the Tour de Cure's signature tour - a 1400-kilometre, eight-day journey between Sydney and Geelong.
It was Mrs Bateman's fifth year as part of the signature tour support crew.
Mr Dalton returned for a second ride with the Sunrise team.
Mr Eldridge and Ms Gartmann were new to the event.
Each of the four Bendigo participants did their fundraising separately. But Mr Dalton said there was scope to pool their efforts, in future.
The Tour de Cure has raised more than $50 million since 2007.
The funding has supported 425 cancer projects, contributed to more than 26 cancer advances or breakthroughs, and helped educate more than 120,000 school children about healthy lifestyle decisions.
Mr Dalton said this year's tour route was more challenging than last year's.
Riders had to contend with more inclines and inclement weather than when Mr Dalton did his first signature tour, which was in Far North Queensland.
"I was really tired by the end of it," he said.
Mrs Bateman traveled between Bendigo, where she was receiving treatment for a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, and the tour route to be part of the event.
"I had the honour of being a guest speaker one night," she said.
She said her recovery was headed in the right direction.
Mrs Bateman plans on being part of the support crew for the Commonwealth Bank's three-day Can4Cancer Ride in Sydney in October.
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Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
