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10:09AM Friday 22 August, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Rain min 12° - max 23°

Seven-month bike ride

27 June 2008

| By Grant Reynolds

In January last year, after completing a marathon 2000km ride through some of most remote terrain in Queensland and northern New South Wales, Noosa’s Roberta Gordon said she wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again.

And this lady’s word is her bond – she’s not only tackling another charity ride early next year, this time it’s going to be really huge.

Roberta has decided to ride in the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund Great Australian Bike Ride from start to finish – every pedal-powered part of the 17,803km journey.

The nine-stage relay ride around Australia begins and ends in Melbourne with riders covering between 40 and 150km per day. Although Roberta has about 10 months up her sleeve, she is spending all the time she can training for what will be a monumental task.

Despite the length of the journey, seven months all told, Roberta said she could not wait to get back into the country side.

“It’s the only way I’ll get to go around the whole of Australia, with the price of petrol,” she said.

The ride will raise funds for mental illness programs and research associated with them.

Roberta’s task is to raise $40,000 in sponsorship money between now and March.

“Mental illness affects everyone at some stage of their lives, so let’s get rid of the stigma and do something about it,” she said.

For more information go to www.greataustralianbike ride.org.au, to help Roberta call her on 0408 177 065 or email noosamermaid@ hotmail.com

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