An 82-year-old grandfather and his 18-year-old grandson have completed a nearly 5,300-kilometre cycling journey across Australia to raise money and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND), a condition that has deeply affected their family.
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Bob Montgomery and Tom Malcolm crossed the finish line in Bowral, New South Wales, on Sunday after spending six weeks riding through Western Australia, the Northern Territory, regional Queensland and outback New South Wales, ABC news reported. On arrival, they werewelcomed by cheering family, friends and members of the local community.
The pair began their journey in Broome on June 22 with the goal of raising $500,000 for MND research and awareness. Along the way, they faced long days on the road, strong headwinds and difficult riding conditions.However, they say the support they received from people across the country kept them going.
For Mr Montgomery, the ride was more than a physical challenge. It was driven by a personal connection to the disease after one of his cousins died from MND. The journey was also his fifth charity distance ride in support of the cause.
The idea for the ride came from Mr Montgomery, who planned it during his grandson's university break. Tom Malcolm admitted it took some time before he agreed to take part. "It took many months to agree to," he said. "I definitely admire Pappa in all that he's done. He was the big catalyst for me coming on this ride," he added.
Cycling with a purpose
Motor neurone disease is a rare and progressive neurological condition that damages the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement. As the disease progresses, people gradually lose muscle strength and physical function, and life expectancy is shortened.
Mr Montgomery said the hardships of cycling were nothing compared to what people living with MND experience every day. "We get the pain riding the harsh winds we ride into and all that stuff. At the end of the day, we can put our feet up and sit back and have a drink," he said, as quoted by the report. "But for people with MND, there's no end to what they have got. It's just a dead end," he added.
The emotional connection to the cause kept both riders focused throughout the trip, even when the conditions became difficult.
