CYCLING around the incredibly scenic Yarrabah and Gordonvale warmed the hearts of more than 80 participants in the Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Ride for Isabel on Sunday, October 17.
While the event has been running since 2010, this year it came under the banner of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation and forms part of the Tour of the Tropics cycling festival.
The ride was instigated in 2010 by Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt and wife Kerry, after their daughter Isabel was stillborn at 41 weeks in 2008.
“Our family shares a close connection with Yarrabah so it was exciting to see the Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Ride for Isabel starting in Yarrabah this year,” Mr Pitt said.
“Losing a child is one of the most difficult tragedies a person can experience and my wife Kerry and I are pleased the ride will support local neonatal services,” he said.
The event was extra special this year for the Pitt family with Curtis and Kerry’s son Tristan joining Curtis on a bike in this year’s ride while wearing Curtis’ jersey from the inaugural ride in 2010.
This year’s event raised $15, 000 for neonatal care in Far North Queensland.
In 2020, there were 1019 admissions to the Special Care Nursery at Cairns Hospital, 167 of whom needed oxygen support, 273 needed ventilation support including bubble continuous positive airway pressure, ventilation and humidified high flow.
Foundation acting Chief Executive Officer Joe Cristaldi said cyclists were bussed from Gordonvale to Yarrabah where they enjoyed a delicious breakfast cooked by HMAS Cairns volunteers before heading off on their ride.
“Riders had the option of a couple of different routes and while the 120km option including the famous Yarrabah Range was chosen by some, many were content with the routes we found for them along the beach, the stunning pine forest and through the beautiful countryside,” Mr Cristaldi said.
“The support of our sponsors on this event, including Alive Pharmacy Warehouse, Yarrabah Shire Council, Mr Wheels Cars 4WD’s and Commercials, Holding Redlich, Maurice Blackburn, HMAS Cairns, Babinda Springs, Cairns Regional Council, Queensland Police Service, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Gordonvale Lions and the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.
“We’re very grateful for the community support of babies in the Far North, through this event,” Mr Cristaldi said.
Photo: Peter Craig and Nick Loukas thoroughly enjoy the stunning scenery around Yarrabah on the Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Ride for Isabel.
