Armidale couple to cross Australia on tandem cycle
Wednesday, 16 August 2006

WHEN Armidale couple Barry and Jean Squire say they are going on a
cross country bike ride, they mean it literally.
Next month, as tandem cyclists, they will begin a marathon bike ride
from Perth across the continent to Sydney.

Barry and Jean have previously completed similar rides of 1000 and
1100km but this ride promises to be quite a challenge.

The journey of 4017km will take 30 days with four interspersed rest
days, leaving Perth on September 11 and arriving in Sydney on
October 14.

The team of 16 riders will be supported by six road crew across the
Nullarbor, then another 30 riders and 10 road crew will join from
Adelaide for the final 1500km.



The aim of this year's ride is to raise funds for a unique project
for which the Bible Society NSW has joined forces with African
Enterprise to attempt to combat HIV/AIDS in Kenya and Uganda, two
countries regarded as among the most affected by this devastating
disease.

The project aims on the one hand to combat illiteracy and raise
awareness of HIV/AIDS issues in school-age children in the slums of
Nairobi and Kampala.

The other part of the project provides carer training in 'home-
based' patient care, particularly targeting relatives of AIDS
sufferers.

The `train-the-trainer' program covers vital skills from medical
dispensation, wound care, feeding, and bathing through to
counselling.

Already there are many encouraging stories of changed lives and
attitudes through this project.

The Bible Society needs funds from this ride to help them meet their
commitment of $1.1 million to this project over three years.

Every donation will help and the progress report on the project
indicates that $180 will in fact help substantially change the lives
of more than 30 people.

"There is a direct connection between a person's ability to read and
their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing," reports Daniel
Willis, Bible Society CEO.

Each rider and road crew pay their own on-road costs and seek to
raise donations of $150 each for each day of the ride, aiming as a
team at an overall target of $100,000 this year.

The Armidale couple hope to raise in excess of $10,000 for their
part in the marathon ride.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Contact the Squires on 6772 8199 if you need more information or
pick up a composite letter/donation form at either Koorong Bookshop,
Caffiends in the Mall or Armidale Bicycle Centre and seek to
encourage them in their preparation for this adventurous effort.

Recent weeks have seen them building up fitness at places like Moree
and Bundaberg where the terrain is flatter and the air warmer than
Armidale offers.

Asked about their reasons for taking on such a marathon ride in
their retirement years, they spoke about their enjoyment of riding
their tandem and using this activity to support such a worthwhile
cause ` `helping others who do not enjoy many of the benefits we in
Australia take for granted'.

They paid tribute to the great support given so far by family and
friends and even strangers they've met during their training but
they admitted to some doubts about the long days required in the
Nullarbor section.

"Several days will be more than 190km between roadhouses, and will
test us, but the support van and bus are always there if we cave in
any time," Mr Squire said.

" The plan is to ride all the way if we can . . . we'll let you know
how it goes when we get home.

"We are really hoping for tailwinds for most of the journey – that
makes all the difference to long days in the saddle."