Fourteen determined riders are preparing to take on 570km as part of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Queensland Ride for Sick Kids (RFSK) 2018, in the hope to raise over $120,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities across Queensland. Driven by a passion for the work of RMHC and cycling, riders will start at McDonald’s Airlie Beach, on Monday August 13, and travel north, navigating through terrain in North Queensland over five days to raise vital funds for the charity. The ride will finish on Friday August 17 at the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat, Palm Cove. Ronald McDonald Houses provide a home away from home, enabling families to stay close to their sick children while they receive treatment in nearby hospitals. Since January 1st 2017, Ronald McDonald Houses across Queensland have provided over 105,150 nights of accommodation to more than 5,700 families. Paul Bews, McDonald’s Yamba licensee and RFSK rider says, “Having young children of my own and living in a regional town, I understand the huge importance that RMHC plays in providing support and assistance to families in need.” “This will be my third consecutive year on the ride and I am very proud to be supporting such a worthwhile cause. The knowledge that the money raised from RFSK Queensland will help keep families with sick children stay together will be all the motivation I need when tackling the most challenging sections of the route,” adds Paul. Locals wishing to support Ronald McDonald House Charities can visit https://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/2018RFSKQLD for more information and details on how they can make a donation. All proceeds from the ride will be donated to the charity’s two Queensland chapters that include four Ronald McDonald Houses (one in Townsville, three in Brisbane), one Family Retreat in Palm Cove, four Family Rooms (one in Townsville, two on the Gold Coast, one in Brisbane) and the Learning Program operated in North Queensland, Northern Territory and South East Queensland. These programs provide much-needed respite for parents caring for a seriously ill child, educational support for youngsters who miss out on schooling because of treatment and a friendly place where families can spend quality time together.