Join the charity ride of a lifetime to help give wishes to kids with critical illnesses

Bays’ Wish is an exclusive ride which will tour some of Victoria’s best cycling roads from 16-20 March 2021. Starting out in Albury, the route covers more than 700kms of awe-inspiring trails to Melbourne, with a mix of challenging elevations and unforgettable scenery along the way.
The best part is every kilometre you ride helps Make-A-Wish create wishes for sick kids like Bays, whose brave battle against critical illness was cut tragically short. His family created this event in his honour. Now in its second year and with just 50 places available in 2020, don’t miss out on this unique and inspirational event.

Inspiring bike ride in memory of an 8-year-old boy

The Bike Chaser Team would urge fellow cyclists from the bike chaser community along with all cycling enthusiasts to don their lycra for Make-A-Wish® Australia’s five day charity ride Bays’ Wish. The boutique and challenging event will run for a second year from 16-20 March 2021 (after a COVID hiatus in 2020) and starts in Albury, stopping at Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat and Queenscliff before crossing the finish line some 700km later in Melbourne’s Federation Square.

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About the Ride

The inaugural Bays’ Wish event took place in March 2019 with 24 riders signing up to join Roger Fuller, a national sales manager and member of the Tunga Six Cycling Club, to cycle 1,200km in memory of his son Bays.

At the age of three, Bailey (known to all as Bays) was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy. He tragically passed away in 2012 aged just eight, leaving his family devastated.

During the early stages of his illness, Bays’ family were told that he would not be able to do things like many other children including riding a bike. Taking on a three-wheeler bike first, then straight onto two wheels, Bays proved the doctors wrong and his love for cycling was born.

Bays’ parents Roger and Andrea were in the early stages of applying to Make-A-Wish to grant Bays’ wish when he passed away. With his passion for bikes, dad Roger knew it’d be focused on bike-riding. When their world turned upside down, Roger didn’t want to let Bays’ dream fade away.

“One of the most precious parts of our life was gone just like that. I still wanted to find a way to grant his wish, even though we didn’t have him anymore. I said let’s fulfil his wish to ride, and do it on his behalf,” said Roger.

The inaugural Bays’ Wish team smashed Roger’s original fundraising target of $10,000, raising over $61,000 for Make-A-Wish Australia in 2019.

“Time doesn’t heal the pain (of losing a child), but you have to deal with it in the best way you can – that’s what we’re doing with the annual Bays’ Wish event,” said Roger.

Make-A-Wish CEO, Sally Bateman is delighted that Make-A-Wish Australia can continue to support Roger and his family by facilitating the organisation of Bays’ Wish in 2020.

“We’d like to encourage cyclists of all backgrounds and abilities to come together in memory of Bays, as we bring his wish to ride to life again in 2021,” said Sally.

“We are so inspired by the Fuller family’s generosity and courage, and thankful we’re able to help support this incredible ride in Bays’ honour.”

Funds raised from the 2021 event will help Make-A-Wish grant even more wishes for kids like Bays who have a life-threatening illness. With just 50 rider places available, don’t miss out on this exclusive event.

For more information on Bays’ Wish and to register for the ride, please visit www.bayswish.org.au

What does an average day look like?

Bays’ Wish is a challenging 5 days in the saddle, covering 100km plus per day – so just like a pro, all you need to think about is you and your bike. The Bays’ Wish Crew will take care of where you sleep, where you eat and where you need to be on and off the bike. We’ve got your back. Check the itinerary here.

Wake up

Mornings on the ride follow a relaxed pattern. Once you are up and showered, you will find any laundry you need in a bag at your door. Leave your bags packed at your door for us to take to the team cars and wander down to breakfast where a spread appropriate for a long day in the saddle awaits.

Fuel up

Fuelled up and ready, we will have a quick briefing on the highlights and highpoints of the day ahead and head outside. Your bikes will have been serviced and await you by the team cars. We aim to be on the road at 9am. We will have a stop or three along the way depending on the day’s course and weather to fuel up and regroup. There is even a rumour that you will get the best lemon slice in Australia to keep you going!

Feet up

At day’s end we’ll roll into our overnight stop. Leave your bike with the mechanic, grab some food and drink from the support crew to top up if you need it and wander to your room where your bag awaits. Take the chance for a shower and rest before we reconvene. Dinner each night will be at or close to our accommodation and we will celebrate the highlights of the day.
And then we’ll do it all over again the next day.

What’s Included

• Five nights’ shared accommodation
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
• Coffee and cake at designated ride stops
• Professional photography
• Daily kit laundry
• Your bike cleaned each night – and serviced as needed – by a professional bike mechanic
• Dedicated rider support crew including first aid and sag wagon

Want to get involved?

Contact the Bays’ Wish Crew 1800 032 260 or find them here

About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish Australia is part of the world’s largest wish granting organisation. Since 1985 it has delivered more than 10,000 unforgettable wishes to children around the country. From the incredibly humble to the seemingly impossible – the organisation has made unicorns fly, sent kids to the moon and even brought dinosaurs back from extinction. Over the past five years, Make-A-Wish Australia has led the world in the adoption of the wish journey, a carefully curated wish program, which focuses on wish capture and design, building anticipation for each child ahead of their one true wish being realised. In 2018 Make-A-Wish Australia was named one of the Top 20 Most Reputable Charities.

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