Salvation cycle

By Paul Pickering
FERNTREE Gully cyclist Damian Richmond will embark upon a 4000km coast-to-coast journey of life this weekend.
In an audacious bid to raise money for African children orphaned by AIDS and genocide, the 39-year-old finance broker will set off from Perth this Saturday for an altruistic tilt at the trans-Australia cycling record.
Mr Richmond aims to arrive in Sydney, breaking the current record of eight days, 10 hours and 57 minutes, meaning he will need to ride 500km each day at 30km per hour.
He has allowed for just five hours of sleep per night.
Mr Richmond hopes to raise $100,000 in sponsorship for the Ferntree Gully-based humanitarian aid group HopeBuilders International.
The money will be used to build new homes, medical clinics and educational facilities in areas of Uganda and Rwanda.
For Mr Richmond, the inspiration for the Race Across Australia came from watching the film Hotel Rwanda, which struck him as a call-to-action against the helplessness of extreme poverty.
Unsure as to what he could do to help, Mr Richmond decided that his bike would be the perfect vehicle for the fundraising effort.
Since taking up cycling just four years ago in a bid to lose weight, Mr Richmond has claimed a host of endurance accolades, including the World 24-Hour Solo Mountain Bike title for 35 to 39-year-olds.
And while he is focused on his newest title tilt, Mr Richmond said individual glory is the furthest thing from his mind.
“It’s got nothing to do with personal achievement and everything to do with raising money,” he explained.
Mr Richmond will be accompanied by a team of nine people, including support riders, a first-aid provider and a masseuse.
Despite training and preparing for the ride meticulously for the past four months, Mr Richmond is under no illusions about the hostile terrain and personal demons that he will face along the way.
“I may have no hope of making it, let alone breaking the record, because there are so many factors that could go wrong,” he said.
“You can have all the plans you like but none are going to apply when you’re out there.
“I could do an Achilles or get boils on my backside and be sitting on the side of the road crying on day five.
“But I figure if the last guy did it then I can do it.”
Mr Richmond has already received sponsorship for the attempt, as well and pledges of donations upon breaking the record.
In order to ensure that the funds reach their intended destination, HopeBuilders International will have a member on the ground in Uganda and Rwanda to assist with the implementation of the project.
During a previous visit to one of the Ugandan townships, a group of 30 villagers vowed to maintain a 24-hour vigil of prayer during Mr Richmond’s ride.
Mr Richmond said the resilience and bravery of the young orphans will provide all the inspiration he needs to push through the pain and exhaustion.
“It’s a heart breaking situation,” he said of the African crisis.
“For me this ride is all about providing new hope and a promising future for these children.”
Sponsorship for the ride can be made by visiting the event website at www.raceacrossaustralia.com.
The site will be updated during the ride so that people can keep track of how Mr Richmond is progressing.