By Callum Ludwig
Mount Evelyn residents are invited to take part in the Eastern 80 charity bike ride when it returns on Saturday 19 February.
In its seventh consecutive year, the bike ride that normally travels to Lilydale, has changed its course this year to instead ride through Warburton.
Although called a bike ride, people are welcome to join for a walk to help raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal, supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Every year the event has a family ambassador who know the importance of the Royal Children’s Hospital, and this year the Coghlan family has been chosen with their little girl Skylah receiving care from the hospital.
The family is originally from Healesville but Daniel, Bianca and their 18-month-old daughter Skylah have since moved to Mildura, and are still supporting the ride from afar.
Mrs Coghlan said the Royal Children’s Hospital have been there since the beginning, getting Skylah into a specialist clinic and testing to confirm her diagnosis of Dravet Syndrome – a rare, drug-resistant epilepsy resulting in prolonged seizures with fever that affects one side of the body.
“We were on the phone to the neurologist, especially in the early days, every week, or every second week, she was just a phone call away,” Mrs Coghlan said.
“She’d always call and check in on Skylah, to see if there were new seizure types, or how she’s going on new medication, things like that.”
The Coghlans are grateful for the Eastern 80 project and it’s support for a facility that has done so much for their little girl and many others.
Founding member Norman Orr said the initiative started when the Warburton Advancement League saw the area’s low contributions to the appeal in years prior.
“It was a bit frustrating to see Warburton itself had nil on the board of the Good Friday Appeal and we decided to do a fundraiser prior to the appeal so we could have some funds on the Warburton total and inspire people to donate,” Mr Orr said.
“I was aware of other little towns that I know with a population of 50 and they’d have $1,000 while we’d have nothing.”
The Eastern80 ride has proved to be a raging success and achieved exactly what Mr Orr and the Warburton Advancement League set out to, raising over $8400 in 2021 despite the financial impact of Covid-19.
“The best year we got about $11,000. We have a few very regular supporters and only once we’ve had over 100 people join us, ” Mr Orr said.
“Our target is $10,000. 100 participants each donating $100 which gives us the $10,000 mark.”
The ride begins at the Cog Bike Cafe in Warburton, with options to walk or ride. Groups of cyclists often ride 50km to the Seville Carriage Cafe and back, or the full 80km to the end of the Warburton Rail Trail in Lilydale before returning.
Mr Orr had only two tips for aspiring riders who wish to take on the challenge for the first time.
“Take plenty of water with them and ride to your ability. We let them know where the water stops are but the main thing is just to ride to their capabilities,” Mr Orr said.
Online registrations beforehand are welcome or register on the day at 6.30am, before the ride starts 8am Saturday 19 February.
The Alpine Hotel in Warburton will be reserving a few tables for those who are waiting for participants to return, and for riders to refresh once finished.
To register, visit www.trybooking.com/BVIZS.
