A casual chat between two NSW-Victorian Border gym friends has grown into 24 hours of charity bike riding to be shared by many.
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In fact 54 people so far have registered for the Sunshine Ride on May 14, where they will rotate turns on stationary bikes in support of Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre.
There will be six teams of five riders at Albury's Adrenaline Boxing and Conditioning as well as a seventh bike where anyone can book an hour's ride.
As indicated by the name, the event links in with the cancer centre's Sunshine Walk fundraiser in November.
The centre became an obvious cause to help for Steve Ballard and Liam Forrest, who got talking one day about fundraising.
Mr Ballard said his wife Debbie, a breast cancer survivor, was able to complete her chemotherapy there and not have to travel.
"I think it's great what it does, it keeps families closer together in a hard time," he said.
"And it makes it better for the patient as well."
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Mr Forrest, a registered nurse, has seen the effects of cancer through his work.
"Some people can suffer for months, years or it can even be lifelong, so if we can suffer for 24 hours and give something back to the community, it's the least we can do," he said.
Many riders next week are friends made at the gym.
"We do a fair bit on the bikes, and we have a little bit of banter between each other while we're doing them," Mr Ballard said.
"That's pretty much the reason why we brought up the ride (idea)."
Both men say the Sunshine Ride is not intended to be competitive.
"I think some people might be looking over and seeing how many kilometres are on each bike but it's not about that, it's more about being there," Mr Forrest said.
"Just as long as you're rolling it over, as long as you're pedalling; it's not a race," Mr Ballard added.
The organising committee has set a $20,000 fundraising target and hopes the event will become an annual event involving more gyms and sporting clubs.
"We don't want it to be a one-off, we actually want to make it go," Mr Ballard said.
"What works this time, we'll make it better and what doesn't work, we ditch."
To donate, go to give.awcancertrust.org.au/fundraisers/sunshineride.
