The region’s brave and inspiring breast cancer fighters were hailed the real heroes of the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation’s very first charity bike ride Handling the Outback, with 26 cyclists taking to the road raising nearly $50,000 helping the Foundation reach $142,000 in support of BreastScreen Toowoomba. Despite the wet and rainy weather, the Volvo Trucks Handling the Outback bike ride to Gordon Country and back again was embraced by participants who braved the early morning start and pedalled 220 kilometres for charity.
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Alison Kennedy said it was fantastic to see the region’s cycling community get behind local women and early Breast Cancer detection. “This was our first year organising and hosting a bike ride and, despite the rain, we couldn’t be more grateful to the riders who came out and supported us and BreastScreen Toowoomba,” she said. “Many who rode with us have in some way been touched by the realities of Breast Cancer, so it just became even more important to everyone involved that we do all we can to bring 3D Ultrasound technology to BreastScreen Toowoomba. We are absolutely over the moon that our riders and supporters raised nearly $50,000. What an incredible effort! With the help of Fitzy’s Colour of Change, Suncorp Brighter Futures, Sofia and her mum Felicia and our incredible sponsors and riders of Handling the Outback we’re excited to announce we’ve reached our target of raising $142,000 for Breast Screen Toowoomba!”
Alison said that everyone who gave their support has helped to save lives of the many remarkable women around them. “Last year our local BreastScreen Service screened over 19,000 women and 125 of them were diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and even though there’s no cure yet, what we can do is help with early detection,” she said. “Our amazing Darling Downs community has now given BreastScreen Toowoomba radiographers the best tools possible when diagnosing patients and this 3D Ultrasound technology will help to save lives.”
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