The Western Bulldogs are throwing support behind Cycling to March, a fundraising initiative by Raphael McGowan to raise money for Melanoma Cancer awareness - in memory of his sister, Tess.
McGowan will endeavour to cycle 1900km from Adelaide to Sydney over 24 days, via Melbourne, to raise funds towards the cause.
McGowan motivation for the fundraising effort stems from his sister Tess' diagnosis with skin cancer while travelling on a bike tour in America.
Subsequently McGowan’s love of cycling merged with his passion to raise awareness for the Melanoma cancer and funds for the Melanoma Institute Australia.
“It was a dream of Tess’ that she would find a cure or be around when Melanoma would have a cure,” McGowan said.
“I wanted to combine my love of cycling with Tess’s hope which is how I came about Cycling to March.”
In tribute of Tess’s life-long dedication to the Bulldogs, McGowan will also visit Victoria University Whitten Oval on Labour Day and the Club is encouraging members and fans to join him from 9:15am.
He is also calling on Bulldogs members and fans to ride alongside him for the remainder of that day’s leg to Whittlesea.
“On Monday March 10 I will be stopping in at Whitten Oval and I encourage members and supporters of Cycling to March and cyclists to come down, meet me in the morning here, support the case and make a donation,” he said.
“They are also welcome to join the leg as I leave Whitten Oval and cycle on to the next stop, Whittlesea.”
Tess was diagnosed with Melanoma, aged 30, and passed away just 11 months later, survived by her husband, (now two year old) daughter, five siblings, family and friends.
Cycling to March
When: Labour Day Public Holiday, Monday 10 March 2014
Time: 9:15am – 9:45am
Where: Victoria University Whitten Oval
Make sure you get down to Victoria University Whitten Oval on Labour Day to see Raph off on the next leg of his journey in Cycling to March. Then watch the Western Bulldogs in action, with open training scheduled from 9:45am.
