VOLUNTEER FOR THE RIDE TO CONQUER CANCER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(BRISBANE – May 14, 2012) – The Ride to Conquer Cancer is looking for volunteers in all four event cities to help provide services for riders on each Ride.

The Rides are epic, two-day fundraising events with all donations raised by Ride participants going directly to world class beneficiaries for the development of ground-breaking cancer medicines, research and care, which leads to treatments and helps save lives around Australia.

The four separate Rides, each over 200km, will take participants of all ages and abilities through picturesque parts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia and will bring together communities of survivors, riders and supporters for one common goal: to conquer cancer.

Volunteers will play pivotal roles in each event by helping with a variety of tasks. Each Ride starts with an Opening Ceremony Saturday morning, before the riders head off on their adventure towards the halfway point of the event where they will camp out overnight in a tent city with food, drinks, hot showers and entertainment on tap. The riders will then make the return leg Sunday.

“I’m a student and raising money is a big ask when all of my friends are also students, so the next best thing is volunteering,” said 2011 Ride volunteer Fatima Benhabib.

Fatima was so impressed with the whole structure of The Ride to Conquer Cancer last year that she is volunteering again in 2012.

“The grandness of the event is what attracted me and just the fact that it’s so well put on. It flows well and the participants have a good time,” she added. “On a personal note, like a lot of other people I’ve had cancer in my family, so volunteering for The Ride is my way of helping the cause.”

Volunteers are needed to work in shifts during the weekend. The shifts will cover the Opening and Closing ceremonies in the city, as well as camp set-up.

“To be there on the Saturday at the Opening Ceremony, to see the riders with the yellow flags making this epic journey, as well as hear a selected rider speak about his own journey with cancer and the bike that was escorted down through the riders is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” said Adrienne, a 2011 volunteer.

Crew members are also needed to help with logistics on each Ride. Crew are the backbone of each event and their responsibilities include food service, traffic, bike parking, truck drivers (truck license needed), camp set-up/pack-up, pit stop, hydration and snack support, massage therapy, Moto safety and more.

There’s a $50 registration fee to be a Crew member. That fee gives Crew access to the same amenities as the Riders including meals, hot showers, tent accommodation and entertainment, as well as providing access to The Ride’s fundraising tools for any Crew that might also want to raise money.

It’s an awesome way to see scenic parts of your state and is a great way to experience the entire event while supporting the participants, so sign up today and be part of this fantastic history-making event!

To sign up to volunteer or crew, donate, or learn more about The Ride to Conquer Cancer, call 1300 33 7433 (Sydney), 1300 00 7433 (Melbourne), 1300 99 7433 (Perth), 1300 11 7433 (Brisbane), or visit http://www.conquercancer.org.au
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About the Ride to Conquer Cancer
During one epic weekend, thousands of men and women will unite for a history making event. They’ll cycle over 200 kilometres in two days to raise money for cancer research, treatment and care. With one in two Australians developing cancer in their lifetime, the Ride to Conquer Cancer has become a powerful call to action for cancer patients, survivors and their supporters.

2012 events will be held in:
Brisbane: 18-19 August, benefiting the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Sydney: 13-14 October, benefiting the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA
Perth: 20-21 October, benefiting the West Australian Institute for Medical Research
Melbourne: 27-28 October 2012, benefiting Peter Mac

The Ride begins with an Opening Ceremony on the Saturday morning and finishes on the Sunday. Thousands of Riders will cover approximately 100 kilometres each day, travelling at their own pace. Riders will be supported by hundreds of volunteers and crew members, providing meals, water and snack stops, gear transport, portable restrooms, safety on the course, comprehensive medical services and an overnight campsite complete with tents, hot showers and entertainment. For more information, visit www.conquercancer.org.au

About The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA
The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA will transform cancer treatment for Australians in an environment thriving on discovery, research and uncompromising care. The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA will combine all facets of clinical care; surgery, medical and radiation oncology, research, integrative medicine and support services for patients, their families and carers to ensure better outcomes for everyone living with cancer. More information can be found at www.lifehouserpa.org.au

About the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is Australia’s only public hospital solely dedicated to cancer and one of an elite group of hospitals worldwide to have its own integrated cancer research program and laboratories. Peter Mac treats more cancer patients each year than any other hospital in the country and its highly skilled medical, nursing and allied health team is backed by the largest cancer research group in Australia. More information can be found at www.petermac.org

About the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research
WAIMR is dedicated to improving the health of the community it serves - across the state, nation and globe. Its research aims to uncover the genetic and environmental causes of a range of diseases. The ultimate goal is to prevent disease developing and to create improved treatments if these conditions do emerge. The WAIMR team has identified numerous genes associated with diseases such as leukaemia, diabetes, cancer (especially breast, ovarian and prostate), as well as those contributing to a number of nerve, muscle and mental health disorder. More information can be found at www.waimr.uwa.edu.au

About the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
QIMR is dedicated to translating discoveries into treatments, diagnostics and prevention strategies. One of QIMR's three research programs is cancer, which incorporates 21 of its laboratories. Cancer is a disease which leads to abnormal cell growth and eventually spreads to other parts of the body. Some cancers are common in family lineage and are clearly inherited, while others are caused by factors in the environment interacting with genetic susceptibilities. Many forms of cancer can be treated successfully if detected early. More information can be found at www.qimr.edu.au