NEXT month, the Rotary Club of Casterton will play host to 40 cyclists as they trek across Victoria and South Australia, to raise funds for childhood cancer research.

The annual ‘Ride for Lily’ will set off from Melbourne on 9 April, travelling 1100 kilometres to the Barossa Valley, with the aim of raising $200,000 along the way.

“The Live for Lily Foundation was set up in memory of Lily Hester, who lost her battle with cancer in 2014, aged nine,” the club’s Barb Toma said.

“Live for Lily raises awareness and funds that will go directly towards research dedicated to finding a cure for childhood cancers.

“It is a not-for-profit, fully volunteer run foundation that is committed to ensuring that we will see an end to childhood cancer.

“To date, the Live for Lily Foundation events have raised more than $1,200,000, all of which is donated directly to the Children’s Cancer Institute.”

This is the sixth Ride for Lily, with the prior rides taking place from Coonawarra to Melbourne in 2016, Sydney to Melbourne in 2017, the epic Ride to the Rock in 2018, the Tour of Tassie in 2019 and the Alpine Epic in 2021.

“The physical challenge of training and seven days of solid riding are nothing compared to what a child going through cancer and their family endures,” Mrs Toma said.

“That is always top of the cyclists’ minds and the reason why the team is riding, to raise funds to end childhood cancer.”

This year’s ride will include a pitstop in Casterton on Tuesday, 12 April, where Rotarians will host riders for a lunch break at around 1pm, at the community kitchen at Island Park.

“The Rotary Club of Casterton is encouraging members from the Casterton community to join them in showing our support and welcoming the riders to Casterton,” Mrs Toma said.

For more information, visit www.liveforlily.org.au/ride-2022.