IT’S a big challenge but Edithvale cyclist Alexandra Gale-Grime says she’s up or it.
Next month she will cycle 600km through Thailand to raise money for a cause close to her heart.
She and her team hope to raise awareness about the sporting abilities of people with disabilities and raise money to help Victorians with disabilities to participate in sport.
The event is being run by CyclePower which is an initiative created by Disability Sport & Recreation. Her dad, Warrick, is the driving force.
This is the fourth CyclePower trip – the others went to Vietnam in 2011, Cambodia in 2012 and Fiji last year.
Alex was born with spina bifida and is the youngest of 21 participants competing in Thailand. Her decade long involvement with youth sporting programs and Warrick’s encouragement pushed her to join the trip to Fiji. “It was the best experience of my life,” she said.
“It was not only my first time doing any big sporting event but it was my first time overseas, too, and it was amazing,” she says of the experience.
Now Alexandra is more motivated than ever to get to Thailand and start cycling. Seven participants will complete the ride using a handcycle – a three wheeled recumbent bike pedalled by her arms.
They will start at Surat Thani, on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand, and wind their way through regional towns over seven days. “Luckily we don’t go through Bangkok,” she quipped, referring to the civil unrest there.
The route includes a visit to the Phuket Punyanukul School which provides education and training to 300 children with special needs, such as down syndrome, deafness, autism and learning disabilities. They are aged between 7-18 years old.
Miles on the road are all important. Alexandra began stamina training six months ago and now rides three days a week on Beach Rd. doing up to 80kms at a stretch and then catching up with more riding at home on rollers.
Her aunty Annette will also participate. “I can’t wait to ride and experience all those feel good moments again,” she said.
The group aims to raise $4500 for those with disabilities, and Alexandra says fundraising is slowly gaining momentum. Through the money she raises and her cycling achievements, she hopes passions will be sparked in younger children to get involved with sport.
The gods are on their side at the start, at least: Surat Thani means City of Good People.
To support Alex phone Karla at Disability Sport & Recreation on 9473 0133 or karla@dsr.org.au. The website everydayhero.com.au has more details.
