How do you trump a 210-kilometre ride around the bay on an 18-kilogram Melbourne Bike Share bike? By not only repeating the ride, but jumping out of your saddle to row a boat across the heads of Port Phillip Bay.
Yarraville’s Dmitri Colebatch, 40, will be joining the 27-man Pirates Sporting Club team in tackling Melbourne’s Around the Bay event this Sunday.
The team – the first in the event’s 21-year history to row across the bay – aims to raise a record $130,000 for The Smith Family in the process.
“We raised $55,000 last year riding the Melbourne bikes and had a great day of it,” Mr Colebatch said. “We thought … it needs to get bigger and better so had to think of a way to take this crazy thing and make it even harder.”
While the rest of the event’s riders wait for a ferry, the Pirates Sporting Club team will hop into surf boats and start rowing the 12 kilometres across the treacherous mouth of the bay, from Queenscliff to Sorrento.
Mr Colebatch said the fundraising challenge would be extra personal this time around.
“I’ve just completed a stint with The Smith Family mentoring program,” he said.
“I was helping out with things like career advice. I’ll be giving an extra bit of push because of my connection with The Smith Family.”
Raising $130,000 would help support 222 kids in need – one for every kilometre of the Pirates’ challenge.
Participants in the 50-kilometre Around the Bay ride can enjoy free entertainment by the Hobsons Bay Band from 9.30am-noon at Altona’s Logan Reserve, the turning point for the journey.
Donations: aroundthebayfundraising.com.au/The+Pirates+Sporting+Club+Project+222
