UWS lecturer rides for charity

Broken bones, blisters, dizzy spells and exposure to the elements – UWS senior lecturer Sabine Piller has overcome some tough challenges to raise almost $9,000 for the Steven Walter Children's Cancer Foundation, a fundraising organisation for childhood cancer research in Australia. The Around Australia Ride saw 23 riders and seven pillions ride 15,000km around the country on motorcycles, raising a total of $275,000.

Sabine knows first-hand about fundraising for research. "As a research scientist, I know how hard it is to raise money for research in Australia and doing it by riding a motorcycle all around Australia while seeing places of the country that I had never been to, sounded like just too good an opportunity," she says.

Sabine jumped on her new bike, with her nine-year-old daughter Karissa riding pillion, and set off on their fundraising adventure on 1 May. The 34-day trip was the longest ride Sabine has ever been on, and proved to be quite a task. "I found it more physical than I expected it to be," says Sabine. "I struggled with blisters on both of my thumbs the first few days, then the heat up North really got to me and I felt so dizzy I had no idea how I was going to hold up the bike. The long days on the bike and only having a short time to stop, refuel and take toilet breaks – including having to gear up my daughter after each and every stop – were tiring."

When in Balladonia, Western Australia, Karissa broke her arm when playing on a slide in a playground. "She continued to ride on the back of the bike for the rest of the trip and was in a lot of pain in the evenings," says Sabine. "But she is tough and we made it through that, too."

Despite some of the challenges along the way, the duo enjoyed their time travelling around Australia, taking in the spectacular scenery and meeting some amazing people. "It was humbling how people from all walks of life offered us money and donated along the ride. Generosity was shown by people who did not have much but insisted we take their pocketful of change, as one homeless person did even though that left him with nothing," Sabine recounts.

Arriving back at Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick, Sabine, Karissa and all involved in the ride were greeted and thanked by survivors of childhood cancer. "It brought home why we made sacrifices and put our time and money into the trip," says Sabine.

In November, Sabine will again jump on her bike, this time heading for the winding roads of the Snowy Mountain National Park as part of the 10th anniversary Snowy Ride.

If you'd like to hear more about Sabine's adventure, you can read more in her blog (opens in a new window). If you would like to get involved, you can donate to the Steven Walter Children's Cancer Foundation or join the Snowy Ride in November. Find out more about the upcoming ride on the Foundation's Facebook page (opens in a new window).