WHEN Yarraville nurse Charlene Gatt was approached to sponsor a friend in the Ride to Conquer Cancer this October, she decided to go one better.
The self-confessed cycling novice signed up to take part in the 200-kilometre ride and raise funds to help find a cure for cancer.
Husband Shaun has also hopped on board and will be joining the ride.
“We’re not really riders at all, but we’re training for it,” Ms Gatt says.
“We’ve started trying to get as far as we can riding local tracks on the weekend.”
They will be joined on the ride in the Let’s Make Cancer History team by close friend Janine Wiggins, a Yarraville teacher and cervical cancer survivor.
“She’s just been told after seven years that there’s an excellent chance she’s cured now.”
Ms Gatt says her family has also been touched by cancer: her mother with bowel cancer, older brother with leukaemia, and many other friends and colleagues have also been affected.
“I’ve also nursed patients through to their deaths. Having seen it from that side, this was just something I wanted to do.”
Each rider has pledged to raise $2500 for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute.
The two-day Ride to Conquer Cancer will be to and from the Mornington Peninsula on October 26-27.
Details and sponsorship: search for ‘Make Cancer History’ at ml13.conquercancer.org.au
