100 days to go: Mental health advocate and basketball star Greg Hire taking on Telethon Alcoa Cycle Challenge
The Alcoa Cycle Challenge is Telethon's newest gruelling fitness task to support sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children across WA.
Former Perth Wildcats player, who founded mental health charity A Stitch in Time, put his hand up to lead the 8-hour cycling event after bike riding 3249km to raise money for suicide prevention last year.
'I rode from Kununurra to Perth and only a few weeks later was the Telethon Family Festival and I just felt captivated and inspired and wanted to do more,' he said.
'I think the greatest gift you can do is help impact lives and I can do that through this, it's a no brainer.'
Hire will be taking the Telethon baton from former rugby player Matt Fuller who pushed his body to the limit 15 times for Telethon with 24-hour fitness challenges.
'This is a continuation of Matty Fuller's physical challenges and what a fantastic legacy he's left Telethon and I'm just trying to continue that,' he said.
'Nothing like burning your glutes for a great cause.'
The cycle challenge will take place on Sunday, October 19 at the Telethon Family Festival.
Joining Hire will be former West Coast Eagles star and Triple M's Xavier Ellis as well as Scotch College students who have decided to take on the challenge at school.
It will be a challenge close to the heart for Ellis, whose young nephew was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis — a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system by causing a buildup of thick, sticky mucus.
'Telethon has always been a great thing for the community but my one-year-old nephew has cystic fibrosis now so I've seen the inner works of the support via Telethon to Cystic Fibrosis WA,' he said.
Scotch College house captain Rory Thorpe said the students were excited to get behind the challenge for Telethon.
'There's definitely a lot of excitement around this especially with Greg competing,' he said.
'The work that Telethon is doing with kids is so vital so getting behind that is such a great thing for any community.'
To challenge yourself or a team to ride visit the
Alcoa Cycle Challenge
.
RAC Arena and the Perth CBD will come alive on October 18 and 19 for Telethon with the funds raised ensuring more than 161 beneficiaries can continue to improve WA childrens' futures.
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