Riders gear up for dementia cure 

After the success of last year’s Bondi2Berry, Nick is ready to saddle up and hit the road again for the 2017 Bondi2Berry Ride to Remember.

Along with friends and fellow cyclists, Nick will head out from the North Bondi Bondi Surf Life Saving Club and make the 155 kilometre journey to Berry on Saturday, September 9. 

Nick said he’s already had a strong response, with a 50 per cent increases on participants from last year. 

“We had 60 riders straight away and all of our event partners are back again this year,” he said.

The 2016 ride increased awareness and raised more than $56,000 towards researching a cure for dementia.

This year’s Ride to Remember has a goal of raising a minimum of $75,000 for Alzheimer's Australia NSW. The money will be used to fund research and find a cure. 

Nick’s own father was officially diagnosed with dementia in 2011 but began experiencing the effects of the disease years before. 

“Dad loved cars so when he started returning home with scratches on the car and it was a bit banged up, that’s when mum knew she had to seek help,” Nick said. 

With full-time work and a young family to care for, Nick said he helps as much as he can but the disease has been devastating for his mother. 

“Living with her partner of 35 years and seeing how life is being sucked away from him affects her emotionally and mentally,” he said. 

“We’re looking forward to raising funds and awareness.”

Joining Nick in organising to event is Pierre Sullivan. Pierre’s mother was diagnosed in 2015.

Their personal experiences, as well as those of many of their close friends, prompted the two to use their passion for cycling to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure.

Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia. It is a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain, it is not one specific disease. There is no cure. There are more than 410,000 Australians living with dementia. Without a major breakthrough in research, the figure is expected to soar to more than one million by 2050.

Make a donation at bondi2berry.com/donate/ 

For more information about Bondi2Berry Ride to Remember contact Nick on 0402 793 372 or see bondi2berry.com