By Afraa Kori
The journey to honor Lucy McAleer continues as her uncle, Scott Holmes, and his friend, Rhys Davie, completed their charity bike ride from Melbourne to Adelaide
Just after 8 months of being diagnosed, Lucy, a bright young girl tragically passed away from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).
Ride for Lucy started by the Pakenham Springs teachers on Saturday 4 January and ended on Monday 13 January, with more than 18,000 raised for DIPG.
Ride for Lucy is not just a physical challenge but a testament to their determination to raise awareness for a cause that has forever changed their lives.
Ride for Lucy was an opportunity for her parents, Brien and Nicole McAleer, to speak out about their experience and encourage other parents to advocate for their child.
On a deeper level, it aims to gather crucial support for research and spark further conversations about the urgent need for a cure for the most aggressive of all childhood cancers.
The ride was filled with numerous challenges, both physically and emotionally. Each day presented different conditions, including tough hills, rain, wind, and varying road types. The route often changed unexpectedly, from cycling along the beach to navigating gravel roads through forests, and at times, riding on busy highways.
“I learnt that your body can do anything. We trained hard, but I was surprised that I recovered for the next day. I was sort of anxious because I’d never done anything like it before. It was hard but nothing stopped me from cycling,” Scott said.
During the ride, they discovered that a past pupil of Rhys’ partner had been diagnosed with DIPG as an adult, which is rare.
Despite these physical obstacles, the emotional challenge of remembering the purpose of the ride, raising awareness for DIPG and supporting affected families kept them going.
“It’s nice to do things for others, and you shouldn’t always think about yourself. As school teachers, those are the values we try to hold anyway.”
“We’re already thinking about doing something similar next year. We don’t know exactly what it will look like yet, but we’d love to make it an annual event for a few years.”
“Being involved in this has been such a learning experience, and I think Lucy’s parents are incredibly proud. Hopefully, this can contribute to research that leads to better treatment in the future.”
Support from the family was crucial throughout the ride, with the wife and children assisting with logistics, coordinating stops, providing food, and managing accommodations.
The ride’s success was due to careful planning, including good sleep, solid nutrition, and six months of preparation. Rhys’s previous experience in long distance cycling was also invaluable in helping Scott through tough moments.
Technology played a key role in connecting the teachers with the online community, thanks to Scott’s daughter social media content throughout the charity ride.It allowed followers to experience the journey in real-time, stay engaged and informed . The content also created a lasting record of the trip, enabling the school and broader community to stay connected and support the cause.
On the final day, the community’s support was incredible, with around 20 people joining to cheer them on, including family members from Melbourne, Lucy’s parents, and friends from near Glenelg.
The highlights of the ride included exploring the stunning Great Ocean Road and discovering new places by bike. Along the way, they met fellow cyclists, including a Russian couple they assisted, and enjoyed friendly conversations with locals at Airbnbs and hotels.
Wildlife encounters, such as wild emus, kangaroos, koalas, and even a close encounter with a black snake, enhanced the journey.
