Ride Right Round

On Saturday 28th March 2009, Simon Buckley and Todd Barry began a circumnavigation of the world by motorcycle. They began their trip in Sydney, Australia where the first leg of their tour saw them heading for Canberra. Their route is also going to take in South East Asia, Japan, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Eastern Europe. From there they will then head onto Canada and the USA, down through Central and South America, Antarctica and home via New Zealand in 2010.  The core theme is 'with support, anything is possible'. 

They are raising money for AICR's Spotlight Prostate Cancer Campaign and The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

This is what Simon had to say about the epic journey:

"How is riding my motorbike around the world going to support prostate cancer?"

For a cause to get enough money to work effectively toward a cure or breakthrough, it has to be popular, in the news, on peoples list.  So being realistic, I am not expecting to raise the millions of dollars needed for research into a cure and run support programs.  What I am hoping to do is to contribute towards the search for a cure, and support programs, all the while giving organisations, media and the public a reason to talk about prostate cancer, to demonstrate the lengths one person is prepared to go to get it on the agenda. 

Supporting local prostate cancer research and support groups, I will give presentations en route on prostate cancer, travel and the trip, motorbike adventuring or whatever suits the audience, and the local organisation uses it as an opportunity to get it's message into the local community.  Bringing a global message to the local community.  It's a proactive way to support men's issues.

"Why Prostate Cancer?"

It's a Man thing.  I want to support men's issues in a proactive way, not wait until I have had a personal experience with prostate cancer.  Dealing with Prostate Cancer is about men facing up to their responsibilities. My trip, similarly, is about facing the unknown and showing that it can be overcome. That what can be seen as a huge challenge can be overcome by facing up to it head on, accepting the challenge, and using a carefully planned and organised approach. I want to encourage Men to face up to their responsibilities, because the issues exist.

Only a few generations ago people were dying from things that today we scoff at as a minor discomfort, or are vaccinated against in childhood.  Who would have thought that a vaccine against the causes of cervical cancer would have been available back then?

These breakthroughs are only possible by research, and to research you need money.  For a cause to get enough money to work effectively toward a cure or breakthrough, it has to be popular, in the news, on peoples list.  That's why, in Riding my bike around the world, awareness of Prostate Cancer is as important, if not more important, than the funds raised.  Thats where I need the most help...

Please join me and make a donation...

You can keep up to date with where the guys are each month by reading our monthly updates.