The cyclists will leave on their 772 kilometre ride on Monday 4th October from Lake Weeroona (car park closest to railway line) between 7am and 8am.

Donations can be made online by clicking here.

All money raised by Ride for Youth will be used by St Luke’s for existing youth programs which operate in our community.

Carlton (AFL) ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and professional cyclist Zak Dempster have thrown their support behind this fundraising event – cycling 772 kilometres from Bendigo to Bathurst.

The group has already raised more than $90,000, with all money raised donated to not-for-profit welfare agency St Luke’s.

St Luke’s is primarily based in Bendigo but also has offices in Albury, Castlemaine, Deniliquin, Echuca, Kyneton, Maryborough and Swan Hill.

The group consists of 14 cyclists and three support crew.

They will leave Bendigo on Monday 4th October 2010 with overnight stops including Numurkah, Urana, Cootamundra, Cowra and Bathurst.

Further information regarding the riders and the route, please use the navigation bar links at the top of this page.

Backgrounder
In late-2009, Poyser Motors Bendigo dealer principal Adam Poyser and Tweed Sutherland First National director Matt Leonard were having a social catch-up. Adam is obviously a ‘car’ man while Matt prefers two wheels and is part of the local ‘cycling set’.

The pair cooked up a plan – if Matt rode his bike to Bathurst, Adam would give him $10,000. Better still, they decided that a local charity should benefit from this friendly dare – and that charity is St Luke’s.

The only stipulation for St Luke’s is that the money raised be used to support young people in the community. Not a problem for St Luke’s given that young people and families is the agency’s core focus.

Money raised by St Luke’s Ride for Youth will go towards the agency’s latest project – Connect Central – a youth focused centre aimed at providing services for young people at risk of dropping through the net during the secondary school to further study/training/work transition.

Further inquiries
If you are interested in catching up with the Ride for Youth on their trip through (or near) your town, please contact Adam Poyser on 0419 887 373. Adam will be driving one of the support vehicles and be able to assist with locations, planned rest stops etc.

On behalf of St Luke’s board, staff and clients, thank you to all who supported the St Luke’s Ride for Youth Charity Auction.

I am staggered by the result – more than $80,000 raised in one night. This funding will be directed into St Luke’s youth programs including our Chutzpah Program, Smart Art and Deemed Enrolment Program.

A special thank you to all of the local businesses and individuals who donated goods and services to be auctioned for the night and, in particular, Andy Hoare whose Hamilton Island House and Boat holiday package was auctioned twice, contributing more $26,000 to the total raised.

The generosity and support from Poyser Motors, Tweed Sutherland, Hume & Iser and each of the 15 riders and support crew really has been overwhelming.

We really do live in a special community – one which understands that there is more to addressing an issue in our community than money.

Of course, the funding enables our staff on the ground to provide the best possible support, facilities and services for young people in need. However, just as valuable are the opportunities that are arising as a result of these fundraising events. Opportunities to connect our vulnerable young people with the business sector via work experience opportunities and the establishment of mentoring relationships.

To the local riders participating in the 772 kilometre Bendigo to Bathurst event, best wishes for a safe journey and thank you for your commitment to St Luke’s.

David Pugh

A Charity Auction planned for Saturday night has exceeded all expectations, with more than 200 people to bid for more than $44,000 worth of goods donated by local Bendigo businesses and traders.

And syndicates are already being formed in preparation for the main auction item for the night – two nights in a luxury multi-million dollar house on Hamilton Island and one night on an 85 foot motor launch with Skipper, crew and meals.

Local businessman and Ride for Youth participant Andy Hoare has donated the main prize which is valued at $15,000.

Ride for Youth organisers Matt Leonard and Adam Poyser said the response from the community has been overwhelming.

“There have been quite a few charity events held in Bendigo already this year and to receive this response for our event is absolutely fantastic for us, and even better for our charity recipient St Luke’s,” Matt said.

The Charity Auction event is booked out and Poyser Motor’s showroom in Epsom undergoing a transformation on Saturday afternoon – cars out and auction goods and tables in – to accommodate the 220-plus crowd.

Neither Matt nor Adam would be drawn on estimates of how much the charity auction would raise for St Luke’s.

“Let’s just say that we have had so many items donated, that many of the items which would normally be sold in the Main Auction have been relegated to the Silent Auction,” Matt said.

“There are definitely some bargains to be had – and some terrific fundraising dollars to go towards St Luke’s youth programs,” Matt said.

Eddie Barkla is one of our community’s most well-known recreational cyclists and in December last year, was ordained as a deacon in the Anglican diocese of Bendigo.

St Luke’s Ride for Youth spokesman Matt Leonard said Eddie was an obvious choice when approaching locals to participate in the fundraising event for St Luke’s.

“When you think cycling in Bendigo you automatically think Eddie Barkla – he is a great ambassador for Bendigo’s strong cycling community and Eddie’s ordination eight months ago as an Anglican deacon made him an obvious participant in our fundraising ride,” Matt said.

“Eddie has a strong sense of community and is a great supporter of young people in Bendigo – all attributes which make his involvement in St Luke’s Ride for Youth all the more important.”

Eddie joins sixteen Ride for Youth participants will participate in a Charity Auction to be held at Poyser Motors on Saturday 28th August.

All money raised from the night will go towards St Luke’s youth programs and in particular, the new Youth Connect Central in Mundy Street.

Tickets are $50 each which includes a two-course meal, drink on arrival and entertainment.

Goods to be auctioned are also being collected and will be gratefully accepted by Kim at Tweed Sutherland.

For Eddie, not much will change in terms of training for the Bendigo to Bathurst ride, which will leave Bendigo’s Civic Gardens on Monday 4 October.

It will be more of the same for this local cyclist, riding to and from work from Mondays to Fridays and longer rides on the weekend.

Bishop Andrew Curnow will be at the start of the event to provide his support as the locals head off along the Midland Highway on their five-day trek to Bathurst, NSW.

Donations in support of the riders and St Luke’s can be made at any branch of Bendigo Bank or online by clicking here.

“There are 17 blokes who have changed their weekend routine from a short ride and a long coffee afterwards to a much longer ride and a seriously reduced coffee break to follow,” event organiser Matt Leonard said.

The fundraiser will officially launch with a Charity Auction to be held on Saturday 28th August, tickets available from Tweed Sutherland First National.

Donated goods are also being accepted at Tweed Sutherland.

In late-2009, Matt and Poyser Motors dealer principal Adam Poyser were having a social catch-up when a dare to cycle to the NSW town of Bathurst for the annual V8 event turned into a fundraising project.

“Adam is obviously the ‘car’ man and although I appreciate a fine motor vehicle, I also like to spend my spare time on my bike, joining hundreds of locals for a weekend ride around the district before disembarking back in Bendigo for a coffee,” Matt said.

“Adam said that if I rode my bike to Bathurst he would give me $10,000 – which we both agreed would be better off being donated to a local not-for-profit organisation.

“We have great respect and admiration for the work of St Luke’s and knew that a donation given to St Luke’s would not only go to the most needy, but that it would stay here, in our community,” Matt said.

The event has taken on a life of its own with a total of 17 locals now participating – including Bendigo Advertiser Editor Peter Kennedy, local cycling legend Eddie Barkla, professional cyclist Zak Dempster and even St Luke’s CEO David Pugh who has agreed to complete day one of the five day ride.

“St Luke’s is thrilled to be the recipient of funds raised from St Luke’s Ride for Youth,” David said.
“To have such high profile community members participating in this ride from Bendigo to Bathurst is tremendous for our Agency and one in which we are pleased to be involved with.

Money raised from this venture will be directed towards St Luke’s youth programs and in particular, the new Youth Connect facility on the corner of Hargreaves and Mundy Streets.

“Our programs are focused on encouraging positive engagement, providing timely support and providing pathways to education and employment,” he said.

For further information, please contact Emma McKenzie on 5444 8102 or 0488 422 138.