Sunrise star reveals heartbreaking reason behind ‘brutal' challenge

Perth Now

a day ago

Sunrise star Mark Beretta is already on the bike for this year's Tour De Cure.
A punishing 1200 kilometre pedal from Airlie Beach to Port Douglas in Far North Queensland, visiting Townsville, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach and Cairns alongside 200 other riders.
Beretta will be joined by huge names like Olympians Chloe Hosking and Mack Horton, as well as Australian cycling royalty, Richie Porte for the eight-day ride, finishing on June 6.
Even for super-fit Beretta, known affectionately as 'Beretts' to millions of Sunrise viewers, it is a back breaking journey for riders as they battle wind, rain, traffic, and the occasional angry cassowary. Sunrise star Mark Beretta has spoken about his father's battle with cancer, as he does this year's Tour De Cure ride to raise money to fight the disease. Credit: Instagram
Beretta's reason for doing the ride is personal.
A few years ago, he received the dreaded call that his beloved father David had a tumour in his chest.
'Two grand finals ago, we got a call to come home because dad's in hospital.
'He had a tumor the size of a tennis ball in his chest. It was pretty grim.
After rounds of treatment, David managed to find himself in remission.
And his mother Joan was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer five years ago.
'She's still battling on. It's tough. It's good days and bad days. I always say we've got skin in the game.
'We're always invested in better cures and better drugs for our loved ones.' Beretta, or Beretts as he is affectionately known to millions of Sunrise viewers, will ride 1,200 kilometres for eight days in north Queensland. Credit: Instagram
This year, Tour De Cure is on track to break its own $21 million fundraising record last year, adding to the $145 million the event has raised since its inception in 2007.
Despite it being his 16th Tour De Cure, Beretta said the endurance ride never gets easier.
'It's bloody brutal. We're 50 kilometres into a 1200-kilometre ride and I'm feeling it already. There's no easy way round it, it hurts. You're on country roads, which are bumpy, potholed and you're smashing into stuff,' Beretta said.
'We started in wind and rain out of Airlie Beach. Got soaked, got dry again. It's a challenge and there's nothing easy about it. If it was easy, everyone would do it, as the saying goes.
'There are days where you wish you could throw your bike into the side of the bushes and walk home. But we get each other through, it's an amazing group of people.'
Beretta said soldiers, paramedics, policemen, doctors, CEOs, corporate types all come together.
Every walk of life from every part of the country, showing up to help raise money for breakthrough research and health outcomes. Even for super-fit Beretta, he said it was a brutal ride. Credit: Instagram
Despite the hardship, Beretta said the riders supported each other.
'You go through stages, first its excitement, then its fatigue, then you get another kick of energy. A new lease of life. Then the last day of riding is bizarre, because you're sad that it's going to end,' Beretta said.
'If you get a donation, it pops up on your phone, so it's really uplifting. You can be feeling down and exhausted and you look at your phone and there's a donation from someone you've never met. I got $50 from a bloke called Daryl from South Australia.
'But, you just go 'wow, people really care.' They want me to keep doing this and they're getting behind it.' That's probably the most special bit. It's great support from everyone.'
Beretta praised northern Queensland and its people.
'People in northern Queensland are really friendly. It' a lovely part of Australia. The wildlife is interesting. At the moment, I am looking at a crocodile net. So, I'm standing back from the edge of the water,' Beretta joked.
'It's an amazing experience; the scenery is incredible.'
Prior to starting the ride, sports-mad Beretta said he would do 300kms a week on the bike.
'I need to start training at least six months beforehand, and I'll keep riding when we get home, because you don't want to lose that fitness,' Beretta said.
'I also do a lot of work at the gym, a lot of weights, and building up my cardio, my strength and my legs.'
Launched in 2007, Tour de Cure has become a national movement of thousands of people walking, running, riding, swimming and attending gala events to raise awareness and support cancer research.
The charity has funded more than 1.198 cancer projects, educated 250,000 schoolchildren on cancer prevention, and contributed to nearly 200 world-class scientific cancer breakthroughs.
'It started just three mates in a coffee shop who got together and wanted to raise funds for cancer.
'From humble beginnings, it's now a national organisation with tens of thousands of people involved.'
Donate to Tour De Cure here.