HUNTER Sports High School teacher Paul Davies is about to embark on a 130-kilometre bike ride to raise awareness for epilepsy.
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He’s doing it in recognition of his 13-year-old son Tom, who is limited by epilepsy in his everyday life.
Epilepsy is the world’s most common serious brain disorder and impacts on the lives of more than 225,000 Australians.
It is an unpredictable and often debilitating condition.
“Tom loves the water, but can’t participate fully in all water sports as there is always the risk that he could have a seizure,” Mr Davies said.
‘‘[He] has learnt the more people around him that are aware of his condition the more activities he can participate in, as this gives him a support crew in those that are aware of his condition if he does have a seizure.”
Mr Davies, along with a group of other riders, will start the ride on Saturday, March 28 at the start of the Fernleigh Track and make their way down to Lake Munmorah, through the Central Coast to Ettalong Beach.
From there, the team will board the ferry to Palm Beach and ride on to Manly to catch another ferry to Circular Quay before finishing at the Lord Nelson Hotel in the Rocks.
The team plans to stop every 20 kilometres for a break and estimate the ride will take 10 hours.
Mr Davies said completing the ride had been a long-term dream of his.
“I’ve always wanted to ride to Sydney from Newcastle, so it was kind of a selfish decision to tick something off my bucket list and then I thought why not raise money and awareness while I’m doing the ride,” he said.
■ Anyone can join in the ride if they want, go to cycle.gofundraise.com.au/page/myridetosydney for more information.