While some New Year’s Resolutions may involve something along the lines of cutting down on booze or spending more time outdoors, others tend to have more quantitative outcomes. You know, kind of like riding a bike 800km up the coast of Australia. Something these six Aussies are doing as we speak.
On 14 January, six riders (and their crew) took on the 2023 Herbalife Nutrition Foundation Bike Ride initiative: a six-day, 800+ kilometre ride, taking them up the east coast of Australia with stops in Taree, Byron Bay, and the Gold Coast. Departing from Newcastle, the six-day feat will see them finishing in Brisbane at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this coming Thursday 19 Jan.
Designed to raise funds to support children in need of nutrition and nutrition education across Australia and New Zealand, this is the eighth year that Herbalife Nutrition has supported the ride – raising over AU$500,000 for charities in AUS/NZ since its inception.
This year, Lyn and Mark Walker, fourth-time riders, are part of the events organising team which also includes Mr Wayne Henderson. Mr Henderson took part in the very first HNF Ride back in 2014 and has been involved ever since. Lyn and Mark are thrilled to be able to be part of this event once again after a two-year hiatus due to COVID.
“We thoroughly enjoy the intensity of the lead up to these bike rides which involves a huge amount of route planning and preparation, not to mention the personal training of all the riders to ensure they’re in shape to handle six days of strenuous riding and the literal ups and downs involved,” said Lyn.
“There is such a sense of accomplishment for everyone involved throughout this process as we all very much believe in giving back to our wider community and we know the impact that our fundraising has on these incredible local charities.”
For the ride team and their crew, not only do they benefit from the knowledge of what their efforts accomplish for these charities, but also the comradery that is intrinsic to a journey of this nature. “Over our years of doing this, we’ve met incredible people who not only became friends, but also very much became part of our wider family,” said Lyn.
Another pair of riders, Michael Hart and his wife Rhonda, are joining for their third time. As someone who loves cycling, Michael was immediately drawn to the idea. But even more so as the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation supports the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation which is where Michael and Rhonda spent a lot of time when their son was in Palliative Care, and years prior to that when Michael’s brother underwent the fitting of his prosthetic glass eyes (he was born blind).
“It gives me great pleasure to actively develop a network of friendships with like-minded people and to continue to raise the awareness of the HNF in communities around Australia,” said Michael.
Peter Hurley, General Manager & Director of Herbalife Nutrition Australia and New Zealand, said, “We’re beyond proud of our members and the work they do to raise these much-needed funds for our local charities and to bring attention to the work the charities do in providing nutrition and strong nutrition education for children.
“As part of our effort to support the HNF Bike Ride, we ensure the riders and crew are properly fuelled and hydrated with the Herbalife24 sports nutrition range, enabling them to truly go the distance over the impressive six-day journey.”
