By Samantha Walker
Doreen resident Hayley Tuck hadn’t ridden a bicycle for almost 20 years until a few months ago.
But last Thursday she finished a gruelling 840-kilometre ride from Torquay to Adelaide to raise money for a children’s charity.
Ms Tuck said the first day of the ride was “quite tricky” after she injured her shoulder falling from her bike the day before, during a pre-ride tour of Torquay.
“I was really quite depleted on the first day, thinking, if it’s going to be this hard for the next five days, I just don’t know that I’m going to be able to get there.”
But after finishing the marathon six-day ride last week, Ms Tuck said it “was definitely all worth it”.
She was inspired to take on the challenge after watching a woman who walked with a cane complete it last year.
“I thought to myself, if she can do it, I don’t really have an excuse not to try.” For the past few months, Ms Tuck trained three to four times a week for the event, fitting in her cycling around her three-year-old daughter’s schedule.
“I leave some mornings around 5.30 and train for three hours to get back home just as she’s waking up.”
Ms Tuck said the 30 riders taking part this year had raised at least $40,000.
The money will go to the Herbalife Family Foundation, which helps charities provide healthy food and accommodation to children in need.
Fellow Doreen resident David Biondo also took part in the charity ride.
