The region’s mayors will be pushed to their limits with a 1000-kilometre trip from Mudgee to Dubbo the chosen route for the 2017 Toyota Tour de OROC.
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The six-day event will raise funds for the Macquarie Home Stay Regional Patient and Family Accommodation facility and to highlight the vast distances involved with people who attend Dubbo’s hospital.
The previous two events, held in 2013 and 2015, raised almost $300,000 for Macquarie Home Stay and event co-ordinator Mathew Dickerson said the goal for 2017 was to raise another $100,000.
“A trip from Mudgee to Dubbo is normally only 126km but this trip will take in 1,000km over six days,” Mr Dickerson said.
“The route goes from Mudgee across to Dunedoo and onto Gilgandra before heading up through Coonamble to Walgett and across to Brewarrina and Bourke before heading down to Nyngan and the last day will see the peloton travel through Trangie and Narromine before arriving in Dubbo.”
The mayors across the region will again be participating at various points of the ride and the Councils and Rotary Clubs across the region will be supporting the riders and helping with fundraising as the riders roll through each town.
“This is an epic challenge. OROC officially stands for Orana Region of Councils but for this event we believe OROC stands for Orana Region Outback Challenge,” Mr Dickerson said.
“This ride is the longest 6-day charity ride in the world and challenges all riders who participate. The first event had Commonwealth Games Dual Gold-medalist Megan Dunn participate and in 2015 triple Tour de France Green Jersey winner, Robbie McEwen, rode with the group.
“Both commented what a huge challenge the cyclists were undertaking. We once again look forward to support from sponsors and riders all across the region.”
Macquarie Home Stay managing director Rod Crowfoot said he was grateful for what the Tour de OROC had done to help get the project going.
“On the back of the initial event in 2013, we were able to show significant community support and dollars in the bank which helped us secure $3.3 million from the Cobbora Transition Fund to fund the balance of Stage 1,” Mr Crowfoot said.
“The project is hurtling forward now with builders currently tendering to construct Stage 1. The entire project is planned in stages so as we secure more funds we can continue to build towards the final vision, which now includes providing the accommodation to support the Cancer Treatment Centre by 2020.
“I encourage all communities across the region to support this event.”
