Rider Profiles

2024 RIDE FOR SICK KIDS RIDER & CREW PROFILES

A big thank you to all our dedicated riders and support crew for joining this year's Ride for Sick Kids.  Because of you, we can help keep families close when they need it most.

ROSS BINGHAM OAM - CEO RHMC NORTHERN NSW

I love that we ride through the towns that people live in that use our Ronald McDonald Houses, Family Rooms, Family Retreat and Learning Program. The camaraderie of the team of riders and support crew is something that you don’t experience anywhere else. The money that we raise is significant and makes a huge difference to our programs and what we can do for children and their families. It forces me to stay fit through winter! I love it.

PETE HODGSON - QUARRY MINING

I am an avid cyclist and first joined the Ride for Sick Kids in 2020 as a Sponsor and also a rider over the 5 days.

I feel lucky to be a part of such a passionate group of riders, all raising much needed funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities and ultimately making a difference for sick kids and their families.  

One of the highlights about RFSK is visiting the schools to talk to students about bike safety and meeting families along the way who have needed the support of Ronald McDonald House and hearing how much it means to them to have access to these services, it really helps ease the financial stress while they focus on their sick child.

BILL COX - RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER

I have been on every ride since it started in 2005. I became involved as I have had family members use Ronald McDonald House and saw just how much it meant to them to have the support of this wonderful organisation. I have ridden every day of every ride and love being able to contribute while spending time with a great group of like minded people. Being able to combine my passion for cycling with fundraising for a fantastic cause is an important week each year.

ANDREW ROSEWORNE - MCDONALD'S LICENSEE - NEWCASTLE

I have worked for McDonald's for over 25 years, in 2018 I moved to Newcastle when I was given the opportunity to purchase the Hexham & Salamander Bay restaurants. I've had a long connection with RMHC and the Newcastle House completing the my first RFSK in 2013. I'm looking forward to taking on the challenge where I hope the team can raise more much-needed funds to help keep families together when they have a seriously ill or injured child.   

PHIL WILSON - MCDONALD'S LICENSEE - UPPER HUNTER

As McDonald's is the founding Mission Partner of the charity, I've seen first-hand the impact Ronald McDonald House Charities has for sick children and their families.  I'm joining Ride for Sick Kids to help make a difference for these families.  While the ride will be a challenge, I know it's nothing like the challenges facing the families staying at Ronald McDonald House.

SAM CASHMAN - HUNTER WHARF & BARGE

I've been cycling for 15 years and first joined the Ride for Sick Kids in 2018 at the suggestion of a friend and as my way of making a difference for families.  I feel privileged to be part of the group of riders who are all passionate about making a difference for sick kids and their families.  One of the greatest things about the week is meeting some of the families who need the support of RMHC Northern NSW and seeing how much it means to them to have access to it.

IVOR THOMAS - COASTLINE CREDIT UNION

I first joined the Ride for Sick Kids back in 2018 and have been on every Ride since.  Coming from Taree many families in my region utilise the services RMHC Northern NSW offer and I wanted to do something more the help impact families. It’s such a rewarding week cycling with a great group of people and meeting some of the families that are supported. It’s a great reminder of how fortunate I am to have 3 healthy kids and how much RMHC is needed in our region.

DAVID WOODS - ACTIVE ACCOUNTING GROUP

Part of the Active Accounting Group

My passion lies in helping others. Through my profession as an Accountant helping businesses to achieve long-term goals and drive success, but also in supporting the community and those in need. I'm looking forward to taking on the challenge and raising the vital funds needed for RMHC Northern NSW to continue to help families with seriously ill or injured children.

GREG HARDES - HARDES AND ASSOCIATES

I cant think of a better cause to support or a better way to spend a week than cycling to help sick kids and their families who need Ronald McDonald House.

DON HUDSON

I’ve been a bike rider for as long as I can remember, my mum tells the story of pushing me up and down the footpath on a tricycle all hour of the day and evening when I was just a toddler, so I was always destined to take up bike riding as a recreational pursuit as well as a sport for many years.

This will be my fourth RFSK ride having been encouraged to join by some of the other riders when I retired in 2019 and started riding a lot more than I had been whilst working.

When you hear the stories of the children and their families first hand and what they go through it only wants you to do more to support such a worthy cause and one that makes such a difference for those families that need to stay at one of the Ronald McDonald Houses whilst their child is hospitalized. 

GREGORY ROSE

I've been part of the Newcastle cycling community for over 12 years as a rider, junior coach, administrator, and volunteer and have long wanted to participate in the RMHC Ride for Sick Kids.  This year, in RFSK milestone 20^th year, I've finally signed up!

I'm fortunate to have raised a healthy family, but I understand the challenges of major childhood illnesses and have witnessed the incredible support RMHC provides to families, so I am excited to help raise the essential funds to support their programs.

ALIX SILLS

NIGEL PERRY

I have been cycling for many years, including previous Ride For Sick Kids road rides where I enjoyed a very well organised and safe ride with some wonderful fellow cyclists and RMHC support crew.  A highlight for me is meeting some of the people along the way that RMH has helped and hearing their stories.  I found this very rewarding and well worth all the riders efforts of cycling over 500kms. Hopefully I can help raise some funds again this year to help some Families and kids who need our help.

DARREN TOWILL

I am excited to be riding for the second year, which is also the 20^th Anniversary of Ride For Sick Kids.  My family experienced first hand the great work this charity does, when my  daughter Mackenzie was born with a hole in her heart.

The care and support from the services of Ronald McDonald House Charities was so supportive and helpful through the whole situation, with a positive outcome for my family.