Sport
25 June, 2025
Cycling tour raises $2M
MY last ‘Goss’ highlighted just some of the many activities currently taking place around the Douglas Shire.
One of those events was the Tour De Cure, with cyclists making their way from Airlie Beach to Port Douglas.
I was extremely impressed with those involved in the marathon bike ride, plus the overall charity itself and the fact that the final two destinations were Mossman and Port Douglas. I, therefore, felt the need to write a little more about the epic journey north and share some extra pictures.
Tour De Cure, Australia’s biggest cycling charity for cancer research, left Airlie Beach and visited Townsville, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns, Mount Molloy, before finishing in Mossman and ultimately Port Douglas.
Known as the ‘Signature Tour’ and covering 1200km in eight days from Friday, May 30 to Friday, June 6, the 168 riders and support crew raised just under $2 million, with the amount still rising. Incredibly, overall, the charity is now just short of helping with its 200th cancer research breakthrough.
Along the way, Tour de Cure funded eight community grants of $10,000 each to local cancer services in the region. Riders also visited 20 schools with the Tour de Cure cancer prevention message of ‘Be Fit, Be Healthy, Be Happy’ to help educate kids and their families about the action they can take to reduce their risk of cancer.
Over 250,000 school children Australia-wide have already experienced the program that teaches that one-in-three cancers can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices. Each year, Australia’s finest cancer researchers apply for funding, assessed by Tour de Cure’s expert grants committee to ensure the most impactful and innovative projects are supported, driving real progress in cancer research, prevention and care.
Tour de Cure chairman Bruno Maurel said “every dollar raised through our fundraising efforts is stretched as far as we possibly can to support vital research, prevention and care projects. We support the most promising projects with the greatest potential to save lives”.
“We work with leading researchers, medical institutions and community organisations to fund breakthroughs that improve outcomes for those impacted by cancer,” Mr Maurel said.
“The generosity of supporters has enabled the charity to raise more than $145 million, fund 1198 cancer projects, educate 250,000 school children on how to prevent cancer and contribute to 196 world class scientific cancer breakthroughs in cancer research.”
Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta is a very keen supporter of Tour De Cure and took part in this most recent event.
“Both of my parents have had cancer issues in recent years,” he said. “Through the research now possible, current treatment has enabled them both to live a longer life than previously possible.”
Anyway, I’m off to grease my chain and check my tyre pressures, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
