A group of Hunter miners known collectively as the Soft Cogs, will combine a passion for cycling and fundraising when they take part in this year’s MS Sydney to the Gong Ride on Sunday.
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This will be the ninth year the team has taken part in this iconic cycling event, during which time they have raised more than $800,000 for Aussies living with multiple sclerosis.
Their target is to raise $1 million by next year – their tenth year and they’re well on track having already raised more than $32,000 this year alone.
Lovedale’s Gary Wills is one of the local cyclists taking part in the event and said that it is a brilliant way to combine his passion for cycling with a good cause.
“I definitely didn’t know a lot about multiple sclerosis before joining the Soft Cogs,” he said.
“During the fundraising process, I have certainly had me eyes open to the personal experiences of people living with the disease.
“It is so debilitating and the stories or resilience that I have become aware of are just incredible.”
Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disease affecting young adults, with diagnosis typically occurring between 20 and 40 years of age.
Three quarters of people living with the disease are women and an additional 1000 people are being diagnosed each year, with no known cause or cure.
Gary has been riding with the Soft Cogs since 2008 and is a regular name on the top 100 list of the MS Gong Ride’s best individual fundraisers.
As a result he said he has been fortunate enough to meet a number of the event’s ambassadors over the years, including comedian Tim Ferguson.
“Meeting Tim was definitely a highlight,” Gary said.
“He spoke so passionately and just hearing about his personal experience and journey was very moving.”
The Soft Cogs team is made up of Hunter miners, their friends, families and workers from other companies involved in the resources sector.
A number of participants also come from other NSW regions as well as Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Around 100 riders wearing the official Soft Cogs jersey and riding both road and mountain bikes take part in the MS Gong Ride each year.
Team captain Kim Nguyen said that anyone is invited to join.
“We’re great for beginners because we’re about fun and just getting people into active healthy lifestyles and we’re predominantly local so it’s pretty social as well,” he said.
“A lot of people that ride know someone that has multiple sclerosis and we’ve learnt a lot more about this debilitating disease since we started riding.”
Donations to Gary’s MS Gong Ride campaign can be made by visiting www.msgongride.org.au/ and searching for Gary Wills.
For more information on the Soft Cogs, visit http://softcogsinc.com/.
