Professors from the UNSW Gonski Institute of Education, former NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli and Finnish educator and author Pasi Sahlberg, are preparing for children’s charity Royal Far West’s premier fundraiser ‘Ride for Country Kids’.
This year’s three-day event starts in Albury on Sunday 7 April, traversing through Wagga Wagga and West Wyalong before a triumphant finish 420km later in Lake Cargelligo on Tuesday 9 April. Ride highlights include community engagement with Royal Far West families, and meeting with the charity’s long-standing supporters and friends – the CWA, Lions Clubs and Rotary.
Pasi Sahlberg and Adrian Piccoli in Sydney in the middle of strategy meeting for the April fund-raising ride in NSW
The 63 riders are keen and fit cyclists who are committed to raising funds for country children.
The core mission of the Gonski Institute is to address growing inequality in Australian education as well as improving access for students to high-quality education wherever they may go to school. Adrian and Pasi’s passion for supporting country schools is shared with Royal Far West, a charity that supports thousands of children, teachers and parents from rural and remote communities every year.
Prof Piccoli said: “I have worked closely with Royal Far West and campaigned for better support services for country kids for over 20 years, when I was first elected as a regional Member of Parliament. I am proud to be raising funds for a charity that has held a special place in the hearts of country families for generations. Royal Far West ensures that distance is no barrier to accessing integrated health, education and mental support.”
The Professors have pledge total of $7,000.00 to this charity. To further support them on their ride for country kids challenge and for this great cause, please go to:
https://rideforcountrykids2019.gofundraise.com.au/page/AdrianPiccoli
https://rideforcountrykids2019.gofundraise.com.au/page/PasiSahlberg
The reason for the event? Children and families living in rural and remote communities are up to five times more likely than those living in urban areas to have challenges with their developmental health, compounded by greater difficulty in receiving the services and support they need.
To improve the inequalities of services available in country areas, every dollar from Ride for Country Kids 2019’s $500,000 rider fundraising target will go towards Royal Far West’s health, education and disability services to support the children and their families in rural and remote communities who cannot access services locally.
The ride would not be possible without the support of Principal and Founding Partner FDC Construction & Fitout.
Follow our ride in Twitter: @pasi_sahlberg and @PiccoliMP
To interview Prof Piccoli or Prof Sahlberg please contact Adrian Piccoli on 9385 1977 or a.piccoli@unsw.edu.au
To interview a Royal Far West spokesperson please contact Claire Coulton on 0427843598 or clairec@royalfarwest.org.au
Early conversations about longer bike ride in Australia took place in the island of Hvar, Croatia, in August 2017
About the Ride
Royal Far West’s Ride for Country Kids is an annual cycling challenge for anyone with a passion for cycling and a desire to give something back to country kids and communities through participation in a charity fundraiser. All funds raised through the Ride supports country children.