Nine students from Mortlake College in Western Victoria are honing their skills and planning their training for this year's Great Vic Bike Ride, thanks to the generous donations made to our Great Vic Schools Support Fund.
Bicycle Network launched the inclusive fund earlier this year, to bring along more students who might not otherwise be able to participate. We have raised $2750 so far.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack says the Great Vic offers students the chance to learn important life skills and develop resilience, co-operation and independence. "Teachers tell us that participation also increases student engagement when they return to school," she says.
Mortlake's outdoor education teacher Lachie Reichman says some of the students, who are in years 9 and 10, are still developing their bike-handling skills in close proximity to the school, while others have begun to train a further afield.
The school participates in the Great Vic every second year.
"The group this year comprises two girls and seven boys who are healthy, sporty, active and from different friendship groups," he says.
"The great thing is that they all see it as a team-building exercise and know that they will be supporting one another on the road and in the camps, and they are committed to starting and finishing the event together."
Reichman, who describes himself as the school's Jack of all trades and also teaches woodwork and vocational skills, says the students will also learn bike maintenance, problem solving and healthy eating habits. They will be supported on the ride by Reichman and Ruby, an older sibling of one of the young women students.
"We plan to get them all out on the road and training as a group in the next few weeks as there are now just 12 weeks to go," says Reichman.
The Mortlake students (pictured above with Lachie) are: Taj, Jobe, Jesse, Luka, Oliver, Holly, Olivia, Michael and Sam.
The Great Vic is celebrating its 40th year and will retrace it original 1984 route from Wondonga to Healesville from Saturday 23 November to Sunday 1 December.
Please donate to the Great Vic Schools Support Fund. Donations are tax deductible.
If your school has a story to tell us about a student, or a group of students, who might need support to join the Great Vic, please email us at: greatvicschools@bicyclenetwork.com.au
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