Patients of Grafton Base Hospital’s Oncology and Haematology Unit will benefit from a $10,000 grant courtesy of the Tour de Cure’s Signature Tour 2023, which made its way from South Grafton to Yamba last Friday.
The 2023 event is the 17th year people have been hitting the road, curing cancer and changing lives, during which time the Tour de Cure has raised almost $100 million, funding 771 cancer projects and contributing to 99 scientific breakthroughs in cancer research and spreading the “Be Fit, Be Healthy, Be Happy” cancer prevention message to more than 175,000 school children.
This year’s eight-day, 1020km Tour de Cure kicked off in Coffs Harbour on March 17, before making its way north via Ballina, Kingscliff, Ipswich, and Brisbane, before arriving at Noosa on March 24.
Between them, the 185 cyclists and support crew from Tour de Cure are aiming to raise $2 million to fund cancer research, support, and prevention projects Australia-wide.
Along the way, Tour de Cure is funding eight different cancer grants of $10,000 to local communities in Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Ballina, Kingscliff, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Brisbane and Sandstone Point, to help support those affected by cancer in these regions.
A Tour de Cure spokeswoman said the $10,000 grant to Grafton Base Hospital’s Oncology and Haematology Unit will benefit patients from across the Clarence Valley who access the unit.
The spokeswoman said the grant will go toward providing local cancer patients with gift cards to support needs for medications and other essential needs related to their treatment and living with cancer.
To spread the Tour de Cure cancer prevention message “Be Fit, Be Healthy, Be Happy” the tour visited six schools along the way, aiming to teach school children that one in three cancers can be prevented through lifestyle choices.
Included in this year’s 185 riders are five-time Para-triathlon world champion Bill Chaffey, who rode a hand cycle, Tour de Cure co-founders Geoff Coombes and Samantha Hollier-James and Channel 7 sports presenter Mark Baretta.
Hand cycling for more than 1000km in his inaugural Tour de Cure, Mr Chaffey said cancer had intruded on the lives of his sister, brother and aunt in the form of melanoma.
“As I get older, I’m seeing too many people suffer and die from a disease I believe we can find a cure for,” he said.
“I also believe I can raise funds to support the researchers find and develop a cure for this disease which is causing so much suffering and taking so many lives.”
Donations to Tour de Cure can be made at https://tourdecure.grassrootz.com/generaldonations/donate/