Community
29 March, 2024
Expat to make cycling homecoming for charity
ONE Camperdown expat will be cycling solo from his new home in Noosa to his hometown to raise funds for two charities.
Jake Rowbottom is set to don his bicycle helmet on Friday (tomorrow), setting off from Noosa in Queensland and cycling around 2700 kilometres to Camperdown, Victoria.
The ride is being conducted alongside a raffle, with all proceeds from ticket sales to be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Mr Rowbottom said he hasn’t even started his ride yet, and he is over halfway to his goal of $20,000.
“I’ve got raffles happening at the Noosa Surf Club as well, where I work part-time. They’re doing raffles every weekend for my charities, so there’s money coming from that,” he said.
“Then there’s the raffle I organised myself; people are buying tickets online as well, which is good.
“I’m feeling good. It’s pretty good; people have been very generous.”
Mr Rowbottom moved to Noosa a year ago and was inspired by stories of others doing similar rides.
“I love riding; I’ve seen a lot of people doing this all around the world,” he said.
“I moved to Noosa a year ago, and when I was driving up to Noosa, I had a friend who was doing a similar thing in Tasmania and I thought if she could do it, then maybe I can have a go at it.
“My Pop had prostate cancer; that’s why I chose that charity. I also know a lot of people who had been affected by breast cancer, so I thought I’d get that one in as well.
“Men and women are both affected by those two cancers heavily in the world. That’s why I chose those two.”
The raffle Mr Rowbottom has organised features 12 prizes, all donated by a variety of businesses, with tickets each $10.
Lucky winners could win two nights accommodation in a two-bedroom apartment thanks to Hotel Laguna, Noosa Heads.
The accommodation is just one of the various prizes on offer.
Mr Rowbottom said he was very grateful to the sponsors of his ride and the prize donors
“A big thanks to the sponsors, Infinite Health Co, The Little Pharmacy and Shoe Shop, Fennel West, Copper and Estate; those are all major sponsors, and then I’ve also got supporting sponsors with Benallack’s Sports, Charles Stewart and Co, and WJR Building,” he said.
“They’re (the sponsors) paying for me to get home; the sponsors have been very generous.
“The Surf Club has been really great to let me sell the raffle tickets there.
“Everyone’s really jumping on board and been very supportive of it.”
Mr Rowbottom anticipates the ride to take three weeks, and he will be doing this without a support group.
To purchase raffle tickets, visit rafflelink.com.au/ride-for-cancer; alternatively, residents can scan the QR code on the flyers available in businesses on Manifold Street, Camperdown.