Newcastle Pink Ribbon Ride organisers have been blown away by the generosity of the Hunter.
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The event has been running since 2004 and was taken over by a new committee this year.
They set a bold target of $12,000 in fundraising for the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation.
So to raise $20,000 was an overwhelming feat for all involved.
Committee member Cathro Freeman joined forces with Michael Yule and Marie Wilson as well as her brother Ray Crowe, his wife Cathy Crowe and her father Ray Crowe senior in organising the event this year.
It was 10 months in the making and turned out to be “bigger than Ben Hur” but proved “very rewarding”.
“This is a ride my brothers have been going on since 2004,” Ms Freeman said.
“I went on it last year for the first time.
“We took it on this year and changed it up a bit. We decided the money raised in the Hunter should go to people in the Hunter.”
Funds previously have gone national but this year the committee wanted the money to stay local.
Ms Freeman and her family saw first-hand “the tireless work” HBCF volunteers do when their mother had breast cancer.
HBCF is a non-profit organisation, which raises funds to provide information and support for women and men diagnosed with, or being treated for breast cancer in the Hunter, and for their families.
“Not everyone has family to do those kind of things,” Ms Freeman said.
“Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation did a lot to help out our mother, who passed away from breast cancer in 2013.
“They’ve also helped Cathy Crowe’s sister, who is a breast cancer sufferer as well.
“It was our way of saying thank you to those people who put so much in to help people who are suffering from breast cancer.”
The ride was held on October 8 and attracted 500 motorcyclists. They rode in convoy from Hexham McDonald’s to the Royal Hotel in Denman, where a day and evening of fundraising, live entertainment and market stalls were held.
“It was just amazing,” Ms Freeman said.
“It was just the most amazing feeling to see so many riders in one area riding for a Hunter-based charity.
“We can’t thank the people of the Hunter more for their generosity and support and the motorcycle community.
“It was really rewarding. The Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation work tirelessly. They’re all volunteers, very few get paid and they work hard. They give up their weekends and time for other families.”