SolarisCare News
Red Sky Ride 2009 :: 1st - 8th March '09
Twenty dedicated cyclists will test their physical and mental endurance over 750 kilometres in eight days to raise funds for the SolarisCare Foundation Cancer Support Centres.
Along with a large support team and multitudes of sponsors, will all contribute to achieving the extraordinary – they will broaden the access to support services that achieve a reduction in pain, and a big improvement in sense of well-being, whilst undergoing treatment for cancer, be it chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. They will promote awareness of a service that provides support and touch therapies to the carers of people with cancer, the very people that shoulder the huge range of concerns whilst trying to provide a positive and supportive environment for those they care so much about.
Ordinary people – achieving something extraordinary.
SolarisCare Opens another Centre
Wonderful news at last for the SolarisCare Foundation, as another hospital embraces the concept of integrated care for cancer patients. St John of God Hospital in Subiaco now houses a SolarisCare Cancer Support Centre.
Above: Founder and Chairman of SolarisCare Foundation, Dr David Joske with Dr Shane Kelly CEO of St John Of God Hospital Subiaco
The new SolarisCare Centre is located next to the Jack Bendat Family Comprehensive Cancer Centre at :
St John of God Hospital
12 Salvado Road, Subiaco
Ph: 08 9388 9788
Mon - Fri: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
The Red Sky Ride : $140,000 raised for SolarisCare!
The Red Sky Ride are a fantastic group of people all of them social riders at best with family or work commitments, who for 6 months, gave up their Saturday and Sunday mornings and 3 weekday evenings training for the Red Sky Ride. Each of them raising awareness and raising funds for the SolarisCare Foundation.
This Year's Red Sky Ride was dedicated to the memory of 17 year-old Carys Gilbert. We are happy to say that Carys had enjoyed the benefit of complementary therapies such as Reflexology and Reiki at the SolarisCare Centre.
The Red Sky Ride aims to increase the awareness in the wider community of the SolarisCare Foundation Cancer Support Centres and the importance of physical and emotional wellbeing and the link to quality of life. We are delighted to announce that they also aim to raise $1 million, over 5 years, for SolarisCare!
It’s not easy being a Red Sky Rider as each rider and support crew was responsible for and committed to :
- Raising $5000 in donations.
- Riding the 750km of the event, and taking the time out of their lives.
- Completing over 6000km of training in 6 months.
- Being “ride-fit” and completing the necessary training (riders).
- Working with the team to set up and manage the Ride and all logistics (support crew).
- Achieving all of this around their existing commitments to family, work and their community.
After six months of preparation and about 6000km in endurance, hill and power training, this amazing group of riders undertook what could only be described as a grueling task. On March 2nd they left Perth and rode 750km in 8 days, Perth - York – Narrogin – Kojonup – Bridgetown - Bunbury – Mandurah – arriving in Perth on March 9th.
Along the way the Red Sky Riders met many locals and were generously supported by the local communities. Some joined in for a morning ride, others gave donations. The longest leg, with hills at the end of the 140km ride, was Narrogin to Kojonup. On arrival the Kojonup community donated over $1,700 to the RSR, easing the pain of those hills!
Dr David Joske bravely joined the Red Sky Riders for the last leg riding from Mandurah to Perth. Escorted by police the team arrived at their final destination the Murray Street Mall around midday on Sunday March 9th. They were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of about 100 who helped celebrate their amazing achievement. The Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi, welcomed the Red Sky Riders and was followed by Dr David Joske who gave them a very much appreciated “thank you”.
The SolarisCare Foundation would like very much to thank all those who supported the Red Sky Riders team by making a donation or sponsoring this wonderful and committed group of riders. Extra extra special thanks to the team riders and crew. We greatly appreciate your tremendous efforts. Thank you all.
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The SolarisCare Foundation organises many fundraising events throughout the year.
Click on Events to see how you can become involved.