‘At least it’s all flat’: Local duo set for outback ride to Uluru
LIVE FOR LILY
PORT Douglas cyclists Ella Bennett and Sue Whalen are preparing to ride the famous Oodnadatta Track next month to raise money for a charity close to their hearts.
The 1000km ride from Marree to Uluru is in support of the Live for Lily Foundation - a charity started by family friend Aaron Hester and his late wife Sianne after the loss of their six-year-old daughter, Lily, to a rare liver cancer.
In a cruel twist of fate, Sianne passed away from breast cancer two years later, leaving behind her husband and two sons Archie, 10, and Ollie, 8.
Rather than let it break him, Aaron has been raising funds for childhood cancer ever since and inspiring others, like Ella and Sue, to do the same.
“Aaron is a Bendigo boy, where we’re also from, with a strong family connection to Mick and Sue (Whalen) and my parents (Bruno and Toni Bennett),” Ella said today.
“He was up in Port Douglas last year which was the first time I’d seen him in a long time and he mentioned loosely about the ride to Uluru.
“Sue piped up and said she’d be interested in doing it and that’s when my competitiveness kicked in. I thought if she’s going to do then I probably have to as well (laughs).”
The girls have been completing 50km rides three times a week in preparation for the April 2-6 event, along with a 120km round trip to the Daintree each weekend.
And they’ll need the miles in their legs.
The six-day ride will take them across the legendary unsealed Oodnadatta Track taking in Oodnadatta, then north to the indigenous community of Finke and Yulara before finishing at The Rock.
“At least it’s all flat,” Ella joked.
"In all seriousness, if Aaron can manage to do all the things he's been able to do without his wife, and with everything he's been through, then I will be able to do this."
Sue admitted the task was no easy feat.
“It’s certainly not easy but we can feel our fitness levels improving which gives us a level of confidence heading in,” Sue said.
“But it’s going to be a huge challenge. The first four days are pretty massive with two 200km rides, but it will get easier as we go along.
“It’s been a bit emotional preparing in some respects, as raising the money can be hard as you really don’t want to let anyone down.”
New riders Ella & Sue make up the Far North QLD contingent for the 2018 Ride to the Rock. The ladies have been...
Posted by LIVE for LILY on Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Ella and Sue have already raised more $10,000 for the Live for Lily Foundation. They’ll be drawing the major raffle from 3pm tomorrow at The Clink Theatre in Port Douglas with the entire community invited to attend.
They’ll also be holding a sausage sizzle on Good Friday at the Port Douglas Sporting Complex as part of the Crocs AFL Cairns season opener against South Cairns.
For more information and to donate visit the Live for Lily Foundation website.
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