As Tamworth continues to weather a horrid flu season, one local is literally pedaling his way to raise funds for those most in need: children.
Chris Harris is riding in his fourth year of the Tour de kids, a fundraising ride, and aims to ride 1000km throughout September around the Kootingal/Tamworth area.
“It’s about the same as riding from Sydney to Brisbane” he says matter of factly.
“Starlight Foundation helps sick children in Childrens Hospitals around Australia. I am friends with two families who’ve had gravely ill children cared for by Starlight and I’ve got customers who’ve been looked after by Starlight.” Said Harris,
“As you can appreciate, when kids are hundreds, if not thousands of kilometres from their families they’re stressed. This is where Starlight comes in. Starlight helps ease the stress the kids are under.”
In the world of pediatric care, Starlight brings joy into the worlds of children who are sick in the many Hospitals around the country. And it’s the Starlight foundation that Chris Harris will be riding for during September when he straps up for the Tour de kids.
“The ride is held every September & can be an individual or as a team effort. I’m doing it as a solo effort but hoping I can get a support team to help with maintenance, moral support, etc.”
Harris has had the support of family and friends, as well as Tom from Tamworth Bicycles whose “kept the wheels turning”.
Along with his personal connections to the foundation, Harris stated that he started participating in the Tour de kids when his regular business couldn’t trade.
“It was something that I could do to put back into the community, help sick kids, maintain fitness & help ease the stress of not being able to trade.”
It wasn’t just a one off though; Harris has since put his money where his mouth is, and is now participating in his fourth year.
“The first year was on my mountain bike & completed 600 kilometres in 30 days. The following year I invested in a road & clocked up over 1,000km. Last year I managed just on 1,000km. It would have been more but mechanical issues stopped me. I started racing at club level last year & the bike’s taken a lot of punishment.”
While the rides themselves might not be a walk (or a ride) in the park exactly, they do give perspective,
“The Tour de kids rides have made me start challenging myself & pushing that little bit harder. The discomfort from doing long distance rides is nothing compared to what the kids in the Children’s hospitals are going through.”
Harris says he likes to have at least one very challenging ride per year; last year he clocked over 130 km riding the Kootingal surrounds. Unfortunately he incurred an injured shoulder at the beginning of this year, but that hasn’t stopped him from signing up again, and will be riding solo this year.
People can donate between now & the end of October. All donations $2 & over are tax deductible. The link to Chris’ fundraising page is Chris Harris • Tour de Kids 2024
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