THIS year’s Great Cycle Challenge to raise funds for children’s cancer research is now underway with Baskerville man Herb Boltong leading the charge after his son Adrian suffered a broken leg and could not ride.

A member of ‘TeamOfHope – No Broken Promises’, Mr Boltong, 82, has taken on the challenge on behalf of his son Adrian, who rode 1469 kilometres last year in the Great Cycle Challenge, raising $3624 for kids’ cancer research.

Mr Boltong said Adrian had ridden most of those kilometres on the Munda Biddi Trail, from Perth to Albany.

Mr Boltong is riding and raising funds to support the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) and the vital work they do in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and finding a cure for childhood cancer.

2024 was a big year for Mr Boltong, who also rode with Adrian from Amsterdam to Bruges and then from Bordeaux to Sète to support Diabetes WA.

“Soon after, in September 2024, Adrian set off on his bike Bluey from Roncesvalles to Santiago along the Camino de Santiago, riding all the way to the edge of the world at Finisterre,” Mr Boltong said.

He added that this year Adrian had promised to ride 500 kilometres and raise even more funds for kids fighting cancer.

“But just weeks before the challenge, life threw him a curveball and he broke his leg while dancing!”

Despite this, Adrian was undeterred and created TeamOfHope – No Broken Promises together with family and friends, with the aim of riding 1000km as a team.

“If we can, we’ll stretch it to 2000km, as every pedal stroke we take is for the kids,” Mr Boltong said.

“Every kilometre logged is another step toward a brighter future for them. And every dollar goes to the incredible team at the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI), Sydney.

“So come and join TeamOfHope and help us kick cancer’s butt, together with everyone in the Great Cycle Challenge, for the incredible kids we ride for.”

To help support TeamOfHope go to their website.