By Casey Neill
Dandenong High School students battled 120kmh wind gusts during their 50km bike ride to support The Smith Family.
Student Sahar and 19 peers from her youth development class took part in the Around the Bay – Ride for a Child in Need event on Sunday 9 October to contribute to the service component of their Duke of Edinburgh Award tilt.
“We are aiming to raise at least $3000 for The Smith Family,” she said.
“We are running different activities within school in order to raise money.
“Raising money isn’t easy but thinking about the children in need for education motivates me all the way.
“Every step I take I think about the children.”
Student Lora said crossing the finish line was “the best feeling ever”.
“It was a hard and long day riding due to the windy conditions,” she said.
“When the wind was with us it only took us an hour to get there and when the wind was against us it took us five hours to get back to the city.”
Bicycle Network runs the event, which is Australia’s largest one-day bike ride as a major fund-raiser for The Smith Family.
The Smith Family’s Victorian general manager Anton Leschen said the support from Dandenong High School would provide disadvantaged children with tools, resources and extra support to thrive at school through Learning for Life.
“More than one in 10 children are living in disadvantage in Australia today and this limits their choices, opportunities and outcomes in life,” he said.
He said Learning for Life provided disadvantaged students with mentoring programs and other support to help them fit in at school and keep up with their peers.
Visit aroundthebayfundraising.com.au and search for Dandenong HS to sponsor the riders.
