Taree’s Darcy Elbourne has ridden 1000km to raise money for kids with cancer | Manning River Times

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Darcy Elbourne took part in the Great Cycle Challenge for the third year in a row, completing 1000km in October to raise money and publicize the Children’s Medical Research Institute. The 70-year-old completed the 1000 km on Tuesday, October 26, which was ahead of schedule. He raised $1083. “I set myself a goal and just went for it. I really never thought I would achieve it,” admitted Darcy. In 2019 and 2020 he drove a combined distance of 980 km, so to go that far in just one month was a huge achievement. Darcy concluded that he had to drive about 20 miles a day for the entire month, but the wet weather ended up missing two days. “Some days I drove up to 55 km to make up for the two days I had missed,” he said. “I almost became obsessive and constantly made sure the weather looked good so I could ride.” Darcy called his route the “Tour de Taree,” which was his daily ride from the Martin Bridge to the Dawson River Bridge and back a few times. “I was pushing really hard.” “If you add up all the kilometers I could have driven to Bundaberg, but I’m a bit old for that, so driving locally will do me for now,” he laughed. Darcy said that while the rides were physically and mentally challenging, hearing the stories of some of the kids with cancer pushed him to keep going. “When you hear the stories about some children, it hits you really hard. Children should live life, not fight for it,” he said. After undergoing cancer treatment himself a few years ago, Darcy said he can only imagine what it must be like for young children and their families. Darcy spent 42 years at Manning Base Hospital, starting out as an apprentice chef and working his way up to the hotel services leadership role. It wasn’t until he retired when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer that he really appreciated what health professionals do. “Now that I’m retired I like to keep busy and this (riding) is just something I’m really passionate about,” said Darcy. Although this is Darcy’s third year competing in the Great Cycle Challenge, he assured it will not be his last, with plans to cover 1500km and raise $1500 next time. In 2019, Darcy drove 449 miles and raised $764. And last year he drove 531 km and raised $850. In total, Darcy drove 1982 km for charity and raised $2697. And overall, the Great Cycle Challenge clocked 2,901,074 miles and raised $6,785,012 to give children with cancer the brighter future they deserve. Darcy’s fundraiser can be found here: greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/DarcyElbourne Learn more about Darcy: Did you know? Manning River Times online subscribers not only have 24/7 access to local and national news, sports, what to do and entertainment – they also have access to our print edition in digital format, with all the classifieds and advertisements at their fingertips.

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November 22, 2021 – 5:00 PM

Darcy Elbourne took part in the Great Cycle Challenge for the third year in a row, completing 1000km in October to raise money and publicize the Children’s Medical Research Institute.

The 70-year-old completed the 1000 km on Tuesday, October 26, which was ahead of schedule. He raised $1083.

“I set myself a goal and just went for it. I really never thought I would achieve it,” admitted Darcy.

In 2019 and 2020 he drove a combined distance of 980 km, so to go that far in just one month was a huge achievement.

Darcy concluded that he had to drive about 20 miles a day for the entire month, but the wet weather ended up missing two days.

“Some days I drove up to 55 km to make up for the two days I had missed,” he said.

I set myself a goal and just went for it, I really never thought I would make it.

Darcy Elbourne

“I almost became obsessive and constantly made sure the weather looked good so I could ride.”

Darcy called his route the “Tour de Taree,” which was his daily ride from the Martin Bridge to the Dawson River Bridge and back a few times.

“I was pushing really hard.”

“If you add up all the kilometers I could have driven to Bundaberg, but I’m a bit old for that, so driving locally will do me for now,” he laughed.

Darcy said that while the rides were physically and mentally challenging, hearing the stories of some of the kids with cancer pushed him to keep going.

“When you hear the stories about some children, it hits you really hard. Children should live life, not fight for it,” he said.

After undergoing cancer treatment himself a few years ago, Darcy said he can only imagine what it must be like for young children and their families.

Darcy spent 42 years at Manning Base Hospital, starting out as an apprentice chef and working his way up to the hotel services leadership role.

When you hear the stories about some children, it hits you very hard. Children should live life, not fight for it.

Darcy Elbourne

It wasn’t until he retired when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer that he really appreciated what health professionals are doing.

“Now that I’m retired I like to keep busy and this (riding) is just something I’m really passionate about,” said Darcy.

Although this is Darcy’s third year competing in the Great Cycle Challenge, he assured that it will not be his last year, with plans to ride 1500km and raise $1500 next time.

In 2019, Darcy drove 449 miles and raised $764. And last year he drove 531 km and raised $850.

In total, Darcy drove 1982 km for charity and raised $2697.

And overall, the Great Cycle Challenge clocked 2,901,074 miles and raised $6,785,012 to give children with cancer the brighter future they deserve.

Did you know? Manning River Times Online Subscribers Not only do they have 24/7 access to local and national news, sports, current affairs and entertainment – they also have access to our print edition in digital format, with all the classifieds and advertisements at their fingertips.