Bi-partisan support for Ride For Life

By John Kenny

Politicians and the members of the corporate world braved the rainy and cold weather to show their support for the Trust Ride for Life races in Sydney's Centennial park on Saturday.

"I'm really happy to be associated with this event," said event patron and Federal member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett (perhaps best known as the former front man for rock group Midnight Oil). "I recognise that all people are in some way affected by cancer and I'm more than happy to lend my support."

Garrett spent time chatting to Malcolm Turnbull, who may sit on the other side of the House of Representatives in Canberra but is a fellow supporter of the event, "Peter and I in fact agree on most things, especially public transport and cycling," said Turnbull, the Federal Liberal member for Wentworth.

Other politicians who attended the event were the ALP member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek and Sandra Nori, NSW Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation. "It's great to get such broad support for the event," said event organiser Phil Bates. "It is good for cancer research fundraising and it's good for cycling," he said.

The event would benefit from more corporate support said Bates, "This event would not take place at all [in Centennial Park] without political and corporate support. The numbers were down a bit in the corporate race so next year we are going to try a more direct marketing approach to [increase participation]."

Event organisers have raised more money than last year, but there is room for more improvement according to Bates, "Trust [the main sponsor] have been fantastic but we need to get another big sponsor on board as well. We intend to this through direct approaches [to potential sponsors]."

Ride For Life race results, report and photos are here.