When a mild mannered technician, Todd Norbury, made a bet with a friend in 2004 as part of a weight loss challenge, it soon turned into a fund-raising exercise that raised over $700 for the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Australia. This year "Norbs" has set his sights higher and increased his personal challenge, with a solo 1,000 km bike ride from Sydney to Melbourne for the same charity.
He has already found support from a range of businesses and people including community radio motoring program Overdrive, car maker Mitsubishi Motors Australia offering a Grandis people mover as a support vehicle for the trip, and support from bicycle shops from Velo Nova in Katoomba to Maroubra Cycles in Sydney, the local Penrith business community, Gatorade Australia and a range of hotels and motels in NSW and Victoria. "I’ve been overwhelmed by the support my ride has been getting," said Norbury, "and the Childrens’ Hospital is a great cause to be helping."
