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The Captain's Ride from the Steve Waugh Foundation

Loans.com.au is proud to be the Major Sponsor of the Captain’s Ride, which is the cornerstone fundraising event of the Steve Waugh Foundation.

The ride is a grueling six-day road cycle tour and leadership program, which will take place this year in the Victorian High Country.

Starting in Healesville on October 29, it will finish in Albury on November 3.

The Captain’s Ride is about people from all walks of life inspiring, supporting and guiding others, while raising funds for children and young adults with rare diseases and their families.

Participants this year will include AFL legend Adam Goodes, cycling gold-medallist Anna Meares, British decathalon champion Daley Thompson, and a range of other sporting and business leaders along with Steve Waugh himself.

Two members of the loans.com.au team will join 70 other riders participating in the life changing event.

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The Cause

More than 400,000 Australian kids live with one of the 6000-8000 known rare diseases. Rare disease patients are the orphans of the health system, often without diagnosis, without treatment, and therefore, without reason to hope. This needs to change.

Together we are ‘PUTTING RARE DISEASES ON THE MAP’

The Steve Waugh Foundation

The Steve Waugh Foundation offers somewhere to turn for children and young adults with rare diseases.

It takes a holistic approach to supporting children and young adults (0-25yrs) with the rarest diseases. Some children come for help once; others come back time and time again. The Foundation works to give these children and young adults a better quality of life, offering support and the opportunity to connect with others through:

  • Individual Grants – for medicine, specialised equipment and treatment therapies
  • Respite Camps – to support the families of children with rare diseases
  • Raising Awareness - playing a leading role in promoting World Rare Disease Day in Australia since 2009
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Daily Highlights

Day One

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29 Oct, Healesville to Marysville

It’s a BIG first day of The Ride covering 112KM and 2235 VM (vertical meters of climbing) for riders. That’s a lot of climbing! Nerves will be running high with excitement and anticipation. The Captain Steve Waugh and Team are ready to go! At the core of The Captain’s Ride is a Leadership Program for Captains of Industry, immerging leaders, and those that want to be Captains of their own life.

Strength of Character

1 in 10 people will be living with or have a rare disease

Today we ride for Tamara who has a rare disease called Seleno-protein N1 related congenital myopathy.

30 Oct, Marysville to Mansfield

Ride Ambassador and Paralympic Champion Michael Milton OAM is on his third Captain’s Ride, and rides with one leg! Today’s route covers 109.3KM and 994VM (vertical meters of climbing) for riders. Ride Ambassadors riding with The Team today include AFL Champion Adam Goodes, Olympic Decathlon Champion Daley Thompson CBE, and International Soccer Champion Craig Johnston.

Inspiration and Leadership

Up to 2M Australians have a rare disease, up to 400,000 are children

Today we ride for Ellie who has a rare disease called Wolf Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS).

Day Two

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Day Three

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31 Oct, Mansfield to Bright

Today is the longest day of The Ride covering 170KM and 1540 VM (vertical meters of climbing) – it’s going to be a long day! The Ride aims to emulate the attitude children with rare disease show every day as they battle against the odds. It’s meant to be difficult, and you need team work to get through it. Today will test the Team.

Putting Rare Diseases on the Map

A rare disease is defined in Australia as affecting 1 in 10,000 people.

Today we ride for Billee who has a rare disease called Lissencephaly

1 Nov, Bright to Mt Hotham to Harrietville

Cycling Legend Anna Meares joins The Ride today! Backing up from the longest day, today is the highest climb of the Tour – 109.5KM and 2586 VM (vertical meters of climbing). A day of tough gruelling hard work to the top of mountains in the Victorian Highlands, and radical fast descents. Riders will need to be at their best and focused.

Courage and Character

There are 6,000 – 8,000 known rare diseases and many yet to be diagnosed.

Today we ride for Jai who has a rare disease called Deletion to chromosome 7q 35 and Duplication to chromosome 5p 15.3

Day Four

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Day Five

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2 Nov, Harrietville to Falls Creek

A small relief today for The Ride Team, it is the shortest distance to ride on Tour, 74.8KM with the promise of an earlier finish to the day – but not before they conquer 2175 VM (vertical meters of climbing)! Every day is a challenge. Each night on Tour, Steve Waugh shares stories and specially invited Champions share their personal experiences, the motivation Riders need to make the distance each day.

It’s not the destination – it’s the journey

Rare diseases affect up to 10% of every population around the world.

Today we ride for Ace who has a rare disease called Aicardi- Goutieres Syndrome.

3 Nov, Falls Creek to Albury

Today is the last day of The Ride. Enduring 5 days of Highlands, one more to go! Today the Team cover 127.1 KM and 2335 VM (vertical meters of climbing). By the end of the day the ‘strength of character’ of every Rider will have been well and truly tested. The Captain’s Ride is a life changing experience for everyone who claims the finish line and is in some way part of it.

Always 100%

Rare disease are rare, people with rare diseases are many.

Today we ride for Marley Trisomy chromosome 5q33 and Monosony chromosome 11q24.2

Day Six

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Media | #captainsride2018