QFRS SWR Firefighters join 890 KLM ride to raise funds for child burns victims
On May 15th four Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) South Western Region (SWR) Firefighters Graham Horchner – Kitchener Street Station, Toowoomba, Brett Kelly – Highfields Fire Station, David Best – Wallangarra Fire Station and Toowoomba retired Firefighter Graham Pointing will join more than 45 other QFRS firefighters and staff from throughout the State and cycle off on a 890 kilometres cross border tour to raise funds for children’s burns research.
Olympian Duncan Armstrong is also getting behind this worthy cause and joining the riders for several days as they take on this grueling ride.
Now in its sixth year the Bike 4 Burns ride is an initiative of the QFRS Wellness Program. To date riders have raised raised more than $185,000 for burns research at the Royal Children’s Hospital. This year, riders have set an ambitious target to raise in excess of $50,000.
Riders will depart Southport Fire Station on Tuesday 15 May and complete the 890 kilometre circuit riding through northern New South Wales, stopping at Murwillumbah and Kyogle then over the border to Killarney, into the wine region of Stanthorpe, out through Texas, Millmerran and Gatton before finishing at the Royal Children’s Hospital on Tuesday 22 May.
QFRS Acting Inspector Gordon Hemphrey has completed all rides since the event’s inception and said he was excited about riding again in 2012.
“Bike 4 Burns is a unique opportunity that not only helps QFRS staff to maintain a high level of fitness, but also benefits some of Queensland’s most vulnerable as we raise funds and awareness for the Royal Children’s Hospital Burns Unit,” he said.
“Donations contribute to important projects like finding treatments which prevent scarring on young children who are victims of serious burns. We’re hopeful that funding quality research today will produce the breakthroughs needed to ensure ongoing improvements in preventing and treating burns victims.
“We encourage people to support the ride by making a donation by visiting the Royal Children’s Hospital website www.workingwonders.com.au and or taking the time to catch up with riders if they are coming to a location near you.” You can even make a dontion to support an individual rider and assist them in their fundariang effots for this very important cause.
Mr Hemphrey is also a Bike 4 Burns committee member and said sponsors and volunteers alike had once again been eager to back the event.
“The event has attracted the support of Isuzu Trucks, Queensland Police Credit Union and Scania as key sponsors for 2012 — their support keeps the Bike 4 Burns wheels in motion and we thank them unreservedly,” he said.
“We are also very thankful for the team of 16 volunteer support crew assisting the riders.”
Follow the riders as they prepare and while they’re on the road through www.facebook.com/bike4burns