DAN Scott set off from Beauty Park in Frankston for a bike ride on Monday. His destination lies 4000 kilometres away. Scott began a 40-day journey from Frankston to Darwin on 1 July. He is raising money for the Children’s Cancer Institute.
Scott spent time in hospital in 2022 after crashing his bicycle in Los Angeles on a trip from Virginia Beach to San Diego. He said his time in hospital inspired him to try and make a difference. “At end of the trip I had a horrible accident where I came off my bike and broke my elbow. I didn’t have a place to recover in the US and went home to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. It really opened my eyes to experiences people have while in hospital,” he said. “I was there for just three days, but some kids are in and out of hospital their whole childhood. That didn’t sit right with me.”
To make the journey to Darwin, Scott will have to cycle around 100 kilometres a day. To ensure he is ready for the odyssey, he says he will have to mentally prepare himself. “Doing this kind of bike riding, 90 percent of the struggle is mental. Some days you don’t want to ride 100 kilometres, and you’re dreading every kilometre,” he said. “You have to find ways to keep your mental game strong. I do have pre-ride jitters or anxiety, but I know the moment I get on the bike it’ll wash away and I can zero in and focus. There’ll be days where it’s a struggle but you develop a mindset where giving up is not an option.”
Scott set off from Beauty Park to travel on to Sorrento. From there he will ferry to Queenscliff before cycling to Adelaide, then north towards Darwin. So far, Scott has raised more than $2000 for the Children’s Cancer Institute. He said he is “really proud” to be working with the organisation.
To donate visit gofundme.com/f/ride-to-darwin-for-the-kids
First published in the Frankston Times – 2nd July 2024