General News
19 April, 2024
Cycling expat due home today
CAMPERDOWN expat Jake Rowbottom is set to arrive in Camperdown this afternoon (Friday) and his parents are encouraging residents to come along and give him a warm welcome.
Jake began his bike ride from Noosa in Queensland to Camperdown on Good Friday, aiming to raise $20,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
The ride accompanies a raffle with 12 prizes, with tickets still available.
Jake’s father, Brian Rowbottom, said his son had close to 500 kilometres left to go but the ride hadn’t been easy.
“It’s been pretty tough. There’s been a lot of hills,” he said.
“He’s gone through some pretty ordinary conditions in Sydney when they had all those bad storms up there.
“He’s back in Victoria, and he’s pretty happy about that. He’s looking forward to the end of it; he’s due for 22 days of riding and after he does today he’ll have three days left.
“He’s been riding for 19 days straight. His body’s holding up well, but he’s looking forward to the end of it.”
Jake said he was not far from home but has been thrilled with how his fundraising campaign has been going.
“I’m about $1000 off my goal of $20,000, so $19,000 which is good,” he said.
“I’ve had lots of places give me free accommodation along the way to help out, and other places give me discounts. It’s helping the fundraising as well.
“People have been donating money and buying lots of tickets in this raffle I’m doing.
“The raffle will be drawn at 8pm on Friday (April 19) night, so that will be the last chance for everyone to get their entries in.”
Belinda Rowbottom, Jake’s mother, said the family was “very, very proud” of his efforts.
“He’s an amazing human being. He’s doing an amazing job,” she said.
“I did a stint with him for five days, then Brian’s been with him for four days.
“All the family’s been supporting him along the way, which is absolutely marvelous.”
Mrs Rowbottom said Jake was looking forward to arriving back to his hometown and is calling on residents to greet him when he returns.
“It’s been really wonderful the community support that has been shown to Jake,” she said.
“Everyone’s been asking where he’s at and how he’s going, and the fact that the community really cares is wonderful.
“The support is overwhelming.”
Jake is expected to finish his ride at the Camperdown Clocktower between 4pm and 4.30pm this afternoon.
Raffle tickets are still available at rafflelink.com.au/ride-for-cancer for $10 a ticket.