Brisbane Ride to Conquer Cancer - August 2011

In August of 2011, encouraged by the team captain, Klaus Bartosch and with the support of Damian Glynn from West Burleigh Vision Personal Training, a team of 15 sought to make a difference.

The 2011 Brisbane Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer was the first Ride to Conquer Cancer in Australia. This 2 day ride over 220klm sought to raise money for Cancer Research. I don't think any of us however dreamed that it would raise $4.7m no less, nor that our little team would be responsible for raising 1% of the total!! $50k!

The first day was challenging to say the least. One hill after another. It just didn’t seem to end. All of us "felt" the satisfaction of completing our first 120klm to the campsite. All of us had some level of anxiety of the next day's further 120klm! The campsite was amazing. The evenings entertainment, food, wine and beer fulfilling. We were exhausted.

No one could have prepared us for the second day. Cold and sore from the previous days ride. Some of us were not sure we would complete the second day. The rain started in the only way that Queensland knows how to rain. Hard and lowering the temperature. The last 60 klm was in none stop rain.

We all finished. Not together like we had planned, but we did all finish!! We were excited, exhausted. The sense of achievement was great.

This ride would be the start of something. It brought together a group of people who’s common connection largely was the West Burleigh Vision Personal Training gym, but who now seemed determined to continue to make a difference.

Vision Crusaders was born!

The Crusaders