KEY organisers of the annual Grampians Ride to Remember fundraiser are busy preparing for over 400 riders and pillions to join them on the 173 kilometre motorcycle ride through the region.
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It is a huge job and a huge day but one that’s close to the community’s heart, as it addresses road safety, honours police who have lost their lives in the line of service, and raises funds for East Grampians Health Service.
The event is organised by the Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat branch.
Foundation member and Northern Highway Patrol Grampians Sergeant Shaun Allen will be leading the ride.
“It’s a really good cause for us, remembering those that have lost their lives in the line of duty,” he said.
“It does mean a lot and I know a lot of (police) members who ride in it off-duty, and a lot of people who ride in it that have had connections with police members, and perhaps police members that have died on duty.”
Ride chairman Dean Pinniger had his own experience with road trauma.
“I’m also on the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Committee in Ararat, through personal past experience with a young lad that was a police recruit and lost his life on the way home to Ararat,” he said.
“He was a neighbour of mine, so I was looking for something in the community to do outside of work, and joined the committee.”
Mr Pinniger said the event, and other committee work was very worthwhile because all of the funds go back to the hospital.
“If myself or my family, or people I know are in hospital, they are benefiting from funds that have been raised through the Blue Ribbon Committee through events like the gala ball and the Ride to Remember,” he said.
“Things that the committee has already done up there, (are) things like the helipad, refurbishing the emergency ward, and we’re currently talking to the hospital about a new project they’ve got up and coming where we’ll fund some equipment.
“In the 10 years of the ride, we’ve raised around $100,000 and the Blue Ribbon Committee itself is north of $900,000 through fundraising.”
Event marshall and committee member Debbie Francis said community support for the event was amazing.
“I think because they realise we are doing it for a cause – it is for the community and it’s not just a biker-related thing,” she said.
The ride will take place on February 3 and bikes will assemble at Barkly Street, east of the Vincent Street intersection.
The Ride will travel on sealed roads to Willaura, Wickliffe then onto Lake Bolac for an hour stop, where the local kinder group will put on morning tea.
On departing the Ride will then travel to Streatham and via the Eurambeen Rd merge onto the Western Highway freeway, through to the Buangor township.
There the Ride contingent will regroup with a water stop then travel back via Warrak to Ararat for a barbecue lunch at Alexandra Gardens around 12.40pm.
Following the lunch will be a Show and Shine.
To take part book here.
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