The Hunter River Times

BY ALEX TIGANI

Brad Bates was overwhelmed with relief when he rode into the Bulga Tavern on Sunday afternoon.

He was the last member of a large group of cyclists to complete a six-day 650km ride from Tumut to raise funds for the Mark Hughes Foundation while also casting the spotlight on brain cancer awareness.

“Ridin 4 Mates” was the banner his group rode under as he tapped the image of his two close workmates Mick Ford and Gary ‘Dale’ Harris print on his lycra who he honoured the ride for.

“This was a promise,” Brad told The Hunter River Times moments after reaching the finish line.

“Mick’s mum and dad couldn’t come to meet us at Tumut but I promised at his funeral six years ago that I was going to honour him in the best way I know how.

“Covid buggered us up a little bit and then poor Dale died, he was such a lovely guy, so this ride was for both of them.”

At 12:46pm a large crowd made up of the Kurri Kurri Mongrels group cheered the cyclists into town.

He paused to share a moment with the Harris family at the end of the bridge before pedalling to the Tavern.

“The first person I saw and cuddled was Faith Harris and we loved him, this was all for her and Sammi her daughter and her son in law rode today as well,” he added.

There was a common theme throughout last week’s ‘Ridin 4 Mates’ 650km ride from Tumut to Bulga.

Sharing stories and raising awareness for brain cancer awareness.

It was a ride six years in the making for organiser Brad Bates who honoured his late workmates Mick Ford and Gary ‘Dale’ Harris with his leadership across the six days.

“On the day we rode from Cowra to Bathurst it rained, it was cold, it was miserable and all you wanted to do was quit,” rider Steven McAllister told The Hunter River Times.

“Brad said ‘I am not quitting, I am doing it for these boys’ and that was enough for all of us.”

The sun was shining in the second half of the week as another Kurri Kurri rider Morton Porker admitted he would never forget the final days of the ride.

“The fourth day was the ride across from Rylstone to Denman, it was probably one of the best rides you can do in Australia,” he explained.

“Then the last day was the icing on the cake.

All proceeds from the ride went to the Mark Hughes Foundation.

“We rode this for the of the greatest innovations in research and it is a tribute to Mark and Brad because he did all the work, all we did was ride the bikes.”

Brad concluded that he was humbled and stated that while he and his fellow riders physically hurt and struggled for six days, it was nothing in comparison to the pain and suffering inflicted on the families.

After reaching his goal of raising $10,000 he heard a whisper that the riders had passed the $40,000 on Sunday however did not want to quote the exact figure due to inaccuracy.

By sunset, the group had counted a total of $51,490.

He had fulfilled his promise.