More than 100 mountain bikers hit the local Helensburgh Mountain Bike Track on Saturday, 6 March in a six-hour event to raise money for people impacted by the 2019-2020 bushfires and drought.

The fundraiser, which ultimately raised $5100 for The Salvation Army’s Disaster Relief Fund, had been more than a year in the making, with Covid-19 squashing plans to hold the event in March 2020. The Salvation Army continues to have chaplains on the ground in bushfire- and drought-affected areas, offering long-term assistance to people who have been impacted.

Lead organiser, Chris Bye, was moved to act after the 2019-2020 bushfire disaster claimed the home of a close friend’s parents. He said seeing so much hardship, he knew it was “time to give back” and got a crew of fellow Helensburgh Off Road Cycle Club (HORCC) members around him to organise a fundraiser.

He said it was a great feeling after so much planning and obstacles to finally see the Ride2Rebuild taking place.

“It was great to see so many people from the local community and surrounding areas – men, women, families – outdoors riding and just having fun. The track was in great condition on the day,” Chris said.

HORCC expressed appreciation to the new owners of the bushland adjoining the grass track, the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council, who kindly gave permission for the club to access trails on their land for the event.

The event couldn’t have occurred without the support of many local businesses who donated goods-in-kind for a raffle, and others who attended on the day to assist, including Leanne Morgan from Jannali Massage, who offered free massage therapy to riders, and Roseanne, from The Morning Brew coffee van, who sold much-needed caffeinated drinks to participants. 

Thirty teams entered the event, with four riders who rode the six-hour event solo, some clocking up close to 100km! There was also a kids’ ride, with The Salvation Army mascot ‘Shieldy’ waving the kids on!