Back in September of 2006, when Ron, Oliver Bodak and myself, burdened with uncomfortable fitting backpacks due to the absence of a road crew, pushed off from the University of Qld Aquatic Centre into an unknown 1500 kilometre seven day journey, we had no inkling that nine year's on we would be celebrating the tenth edition of that first epic ride.
From a respectable $24,000 raised in that first year, to an insane total of $6 million now raised for research at Mater, it has been one hell of a happy but sad journey for everyone involved. We have laughed until we've cried and cried until the tears would no longer come. So many good memories borne from good people coming together for a common cause, and along the way the sad times continue to creep into our lives due to the lives lost of those we love.
Smiling for Smiddy started due to losing our mate Adam Smiddy, now nine years on and his beautiful, bubbly, positive Mother, Maria Smiddy has just succumbed to her fight with Pancreatic Cancer. Two Smiddy's lost from the same family. The news rocked us all to our very core and the wounds have been opened afresh. While we will all miss Maria terribly, as we have Adam, the goal remains the same; Smiling for Smiddy events, along with the amazing support of the Mater Foundation, will continue to raise money for research and reach out to those less fortunate and keep providing hope to those inflicted with this insidious disease. This is what Maria would have wanted and it is what Maria will get!
So as part of our ten year celebration of the Smiddy Challenge it was decided at Smiddy and Mater Central that a regional trip, this time by car, was on the cards to thank the people that have made the Challenge event possible. So last Monday, Wendy Muir (our new Smiddy team member) and I, spent five days visiting all our regional ambassadors throughout Nanango, Eisdvold, Biloela, Blackwater, Clermont, Belyando Crossing, Charters Towers and finally Townsville. For the riders and road crew of this year's event they are in for an absolute treat. Every town and person that we visited on this trip are extremely excited and very much looking forward to the teams arrival.
On that note I welcome you to join in the journey of human kindness that Wendy and I just experienced this week by enjoying a snap shot of some of those special moments and people via the photos below, who without their ongoing support, there would be no Smiling for Smiddy.
Cheers,
Sharky
S
teel,
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