The Macro for Micro cyclists will ride into town as part of their initiative to raise more than $50,000 for Opportunity International Australia.

Opportunity International Australia is a non-profit organisation that uses a micro finance business approach to solve the problem of poverty.

The trek starts in Sydney today and Nowra is one of cyclists’ first stops.

The 5600 kilometre Macro for Micro ride from Sydney to Perth aims to highlight the issue of global poverty and create awareness of micro finance as a sustainable solution.

The cyclists chose today to start their ride because it coincides with United Nations International Women’s Day.

Approximately 85 per cent of the people Opportunity International Australia helps out of poverty through micro finance are women.

Former World Ironman champion and health and fitness expert Guy Leech, supported the Macro for Micro ride and participated in the Sydney to Wollongong leg.

The ironman could be in Nowra tomorrow when the cyclists ride into town.

The cyclists will be at Nowra’s Gloria Jeans tomorrow from 4pm to 5pm.

From every drink purchased in that hour $1 will go to the cause and people can also put money in the donation box.

Cyclist and organiser of Macro for Micro, Geoff Dittrich, said the group wanted to take on a significant physical plight in order to bring attention to global poverty.

“I started this journey with the hope of changing one life,” Mr Dittrich said.

“My hope now is to inspire a movement so compelling that our contribution towards ending the poverty cycle far exceeds the milestones we reach during our cycling journey.

“I’m also looking forward to meeting many Australians along our cycling route and hope locals will come out and support us in our campaign.”

For more information about Opportunity International Australia, please visit

www.opportunity.org.au