PEDAL power will take Paul Mitchell from Brisbane to Townsville in an effort to raise money for cancer research as part of the Mater Foundation’s Smiling for Smiddy Challenge.
The ride, which was to begin yon September 1, will take the assistant principal at Our Lady of the Rosary School, Kenmore, on a 1600km journey north through Nanango, up Central Queensland to Charters Towers to finish in Townsville on September 8.
Mr Mitchell said he hoped to average 200km a day, with all money raised going to support cancer research and patient care facilities at the Mater Hospital.
He said the school community had already been quite generous in their support of this worthwhile charity through free-dress days and the Year 7 Mini Fair.
Mr Mitchell said each year the Year 7 students held a Mini Fair at school, which was an opportunity for them to participate in the outreach and mission of the Church.
“Students create and run their own stalls, including cakes, games, face-painting and sports activities, and the money they raised is shared between the St Vincent de Paul Society and a charity of their choice,” he said.
“This year Camilla, Jessica and Jaida chose to support the Mater Foundation through my Smiling for Smiddy Challenge.”
Mr Mitchell said the students chose the Mater Foundation because they believed a “cure is around the corner and so many families are affected by cancer”.
“They also heard some of the stories through their research on the charity and it really made them want to help out.”
Year 7 teacher Shane Wheeler said all the students “developed a deeper understanding of what it means to reach out to those in need through personal action”.
So far Mr Mitchell has raised almost $7000 for the Mater Foundation.
He said riding from Brisbane to Townsville was hard, but donating to cure cancer was easy.
