John Wood
- National: 174th
- State: 22nd in Qld
- My Team: 1st
My Story
In the past 3 years, I’ve cycled a total of 2,861 kilometres in the Great Cycle Challenges. This year, I’m attempting to take that total beyond 4,000 to support the fantastic work that the Children’s Medical Research Institute undertakes, in its quest to end childhood cancer and save little lives.
The kilometres that I've clocked up over the past three years' events have sometimes been challenging, but nothing compared to what these brave kids face every day of their lives as they battle this terrible disease. Cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in Australia. Every 2 minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer.
Kids should be living life, NOT fighting for it.
Your support and generosity have been major factors in driving me towards reaching my targets each year and together over 3 years, you my supporters have contributed an awesome $8,953.76 towards The Fight.
Please continue your wonderful support of the Fight Against Kids’ Cancer by making a donation through my fundraising page:
https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/JohnWood/d
All funds raised will support the Children's Medical Research Institute in continuing their work to develop treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible
Thank you for your support and encouragement. 4,000 Kilometers, here we come!!!!
Kindest Regards
John
My Challenge
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Another GCC completed with record results all round.
5 Nov 2021A HUGE THANK YOU
With Facts, Stats and Super Efforts from the Great Cycle Challenge 2021:
+ 127,583 individual rides were completed throughout October.
+ Collective kilometres ridden would lap the circumference of the earth 72 times!
+ With 12,503 riders registered, there were approximately 1,327,680 spokes turning to kick cancer's butt throughout October.
+ 78 kids under 5 years old took on the challenge to kick cancers' butt!
+ 316 participants have survived their own personal fight against cancer.
+ 3,164 riders took part in the challenge in memory of a loved one impacted by cancer.
+ Together, participants have been in the saddle for the equivalent of 5,700 days, 9 hours and 20 minutes.
+ Over the 9 years of the GCC, participants have ridden 21,462,461km and raised $34,076,341 to fight kids' cancer!
+ A record $6,909,982 has been raised in this year’s Challenge but the books are still open for finalisation of donations and the final figure will be announced on Friday 26 November.
From Pom and myself, thank you all so much for your generous support and encouragement through the four challenges we’ve now participated in. While Pom and I have been cycling this year towards record goals, for us, these results have largely been achieved as a reaction to your overwhelming support and encouragement. Some have asked how we managed to stay in the saddle across the 1,600 kilometres. Well we didn’t achieve it unassisted. During the event and in the months leading up to it I was prepared and maintained by Andrew, Hadi, Izzy and Mette, the exercise physiologist, physiotherapists and sports psychologist from the Veterans Health Association and weekly Thai massages from Parndana at Miracle Thai Massage. Added to that was the enormous encouragement and support from my regular cycling mates; Brian, David, Joop, Ken S, Ken D, Phil and Simon who dragged and pushed me through many of the 1,381.1 kilometres.
Over the whole journey, our Giant hybrid bikes performed faultlessly and one puncture was the only hiccup we experienced in 1,600 kilometres. So once again, a big thank you to David at Carina Cycles who ensured Pom and I were equipped with appropriate bikes for the mission and fine tuned them, before our Great Cycle Challenge got under way.
Finally, note that cycling is not the solution for losing weight. After cycling 1,383.1 kilometres over 31 days, I only managed a one kilogram reduction. Might have had something to do with the number of cappuccinos, chocolates and ice creams that I needed to maintain appropriate energy levels. ☕️🍫🍦 🚴♀️🚴
Posted 28 days ago -
16.1 km ride - Lunch Ride - Sunday, October 31, 2021
Logged this ride 33 days ago -
55.1 km ride - Morning Ride - Sunday, October 31, 2021
Logged this ride 34 days ago -
27.3 km ride - Morning Ride - Friday, October 29, 2021
Logged this ride 36 days ago -
60.2 km ride - Morning Ride - Thursday, October 28, 2021
Logged this ride 37 days ago -
Fundraising & kilometers targets of reached with 4 days of peddling to go
27 Oct 2021Yesterday (Day 27 of the GCC 2021) I set out from Manly West at 6:10am with the aim of reaching my 1,200 kilometre target on an 84km ride to Victoria Point and back. Fortunately, after coffee and poached eggs at Crusoe Cafe in Raby Bay, I was joined by my regular cycling buddies, Brian, David, Joop and Phil who pushed/dragged me through the 40 kilometres to the "Driftwood CAFE by the Bay" at Victoria Point (next coffee break) and the return to Cleveland.
After bidding farewell to the boys, I set off on the return leg to Manly West on a route that would take me just south of the headland at Wellington Point. And this is where there may have been some divine intervention. :-) As I approached the intersection with the road that leads to the Wellington Point, I felt compelled to conquer the point and did so on a diversion that added about 4km to my ride. Continuing on from Wellington Point, I started monitoring the Garmin to ensure I stopped at the 1,200 kilometre point to record the milestone.
And guess where 1,200 kilometres was registered?
The picture tells the story and trust me, it was not planned.
So now I've reached my targets, I could put the bike in the rack and rest my body but I'm not going to. There are still four days left in this year's quest to boost the fight to conquer Kids' Cancer and my cycling mates are standing by to take me through another 50 kilometres tomorrow. We are keen to see how much more we can contribute to this great cause of striving to save little lives.
Thank you all so much for your generous sponsorships and wonderful words of encouragement which have played a vital part in my getting to the present position.
Standby for a final rap up next week, on the Great Cycle Challenge 2021.
Posted 37 days ago -
9.3 km ride - Indoor cycling - Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Logged this ride 38 days ago -
87.6 km ride - Morning Ride - Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Logged this ride 39 days ago -
33.6 km ride - Lunch Ride - Monday, October 25, 2021
Logged this ride 40 days ago -
10.8 km ride - Day 25 of the GCC- Indoor cycling - Monday, October 25, 2021
Logged this ride 40 days ago
My Sponsors
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day Matching Donation
“Here's your matched donation from two of our generous supporters and corporate partner WINC. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to kick cancer's butt!”
$510.65Received this donation 51 days ago
John
“Thank you so much guys for your compassion and awesome support for the little ones that are battling cancer and for their families around them. I’m so proud to be a participant in this campaign. 🚴🏻♀️”
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Glenis Phillips
“Hi John, Keep up your fantastic work helping those in most need. I am very proud to be associated with your committment.”
$310.50Received this donation 52 days ago
John
“Hi Glenis, A BIG thank you to you and to David for your ongoing generous support of the Kids with Cancer and for your words of encouragement. I'm very fortunate also, to have David with me on the rides and for his input at our stimulating coffee breaks. The cycling is easy, with the support I get from you guys who support and encourage me along the way.”
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Phil Ransome
“Wonderful cause to support, well done John !”
$274.28Received this donation 58 days ago
John
“Hi Phil, Thank you so much for your continued generous support of the fight against Kids' Cancer and for your support and encouragement of me along the way. Looking forward to doing the rides together, through the GCC and beyond. ”
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Ron Walpole
“Well done Woody.”
$274.28Received this donation 51 days ago
John
“Thanks Ron for your generous ongoing support of the little kids with cancer and for the encouragement you give Pom and me as we ride on to meet our goals 🥂🥂”
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Patrick Cooper
“Hey Woody - well done mate. You continue to inspire me! Coming into magpie season too ...”
$250Received this donation 88 days ago
John
“Hi Pat, Thank you so much for your ongoing encouragement and generosity. You really know how to kick start my campaigns each year. Magpies are appearing in numbers but so far no conflictions for me. After the dismal performances put up by Collingwood this season, it might be refreshing to see some magpies with a bit of fight in them. Stay safe.”
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Rod Whannell
“Best of luck for your challenge this year. Everyone is a winner! Cheers Rod and Wendy”
$207Received this donation 84 days ago
John
“Rod and Wendy, Thank you so much for your kind and generous support for the kids and for the encouragement you’ve given me over the years. Stay safe Cheers, John ”
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Greg Hood
“Great work again Woody - ride on!”
$124.20Received this donation 66 days ago
John
“Hi Greg, Thanks so much for your continued generosity in support of the Kids and for you encouragement. Could be an exciting start to the Challenge, on Friday. They’re forecasting super storms with possibly giant hailstones 💨🚴🏻♀️”
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Greg Lynn
“Very happy to support you John for this most important cause.”
$124.20Received this donation 66 days ago
John
“Hi Greg, Thanks for your continued generosity in supporting the Kids and for the encouragement you give me each year. The ride may seem a bit daunting at this end of the trail but being able to represent supporters like yourself in the fight against Kids’ Cancer certainly makes it a journey to enjoy 😊 ”
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Ken Saunders
“Good luck John”
$124.20Received this donation 57 days ago
John
“Thanks Ken for your ongoing generous sponsorship of the fight against Kids’ Cancer. The encouragement and support you give on our rides contributes greatly to my reaching my goals. 🚴🏿♂️🚴🏻♀️”
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Anonymous
$124.20Received this donation 47 days ago
John
“Thank you Mr/Mrs/Miss Anonymous for your generosity in supporting the little kids and for spurring me on to meet my targets 🙏🚴🏿♂️””
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Jennifer Turnbull
“Safe riding”
$103.50Received this donation 71 days ago
John
“Thank you Jenny for your continued generous sponsorship of the Fight against Kids’ Cancer and your words of support and encouragement.”
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Nicky Catakovic
“Looking forward to celebrating with you when you reach your goal, go John!”
$103.50Received this donation 63 days ago
John
“Hi Nicky, I’m certainly looking forward to that too. Thank you for your continued generosity in supporting the little Kids with Cancer and for your words of encouragement. You guys spur me on the cycle on through the hazardous nesting magpie zones etc. Me being a Collingwood supporter for some 66 years, you’d think they’d pay me some respect😀 🚴🏿♂️🦅”
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David at Carina Cycles
“Go Team John & Pom.”
$80Received this donation 63 days ago
John
“Hi David, Thank you for your generous support of The Kids with Cancer, your great work in preparing my bike for the Challenge, each year and for your words of encouragement. And, the Giant is running like a dream😊”
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Bernie
“I am in awe of John's cycling achievements and for such a good cause. Fantastic!!”
$72.45Received this donation 40 days ago
John
“Thank you so much Bernie and Bob for your generous support of the little kids with cancer. The cycling is easy for us, with the encouragement we are given by lovely supporters like yourselves.”
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Garth Cooper
$72.45Received this donation 58 days ago
John
“Hi Garth, Thank you Buddy for your ongoing generous support of the Fight against Kids’ Cancer and for the encouragement you give me. Hope you can join us for some of the rides.”
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Karen Dobeli
“Sending you good vibes for fair weather and no punctures!”
$72.45Received this donation 58 days ago
John
“Hi Karen, Thank you for your ongoing generous support of the Kids with Cancer and for your encouragement. Fair weather and no punctures so far, just swooping angry birds.🦅 ”
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Anonymous
$72.45Received this donation 81 days ago
John
“Thank you Mette for your generosity in supporting the kids and for spurring me on to meet my targets 🙏🚴🏿♂️”
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Mike Roderick
$72.45Received this donation 82 days ago
John
“Hi Mike, Thank you so much for your generous support and ongoing encouragement. Covering the kilometres is much easier when I have you guys backing me up. 🍻”
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Steve Wood
“Nearly there old mate doing us proud”
$72.45Received this donation 39 days ago
John
“Thanks Mate. Got the bike riding hacked but don’t ask me to walk more than a kilometre 😀 Thank you for your support of the cause 🍻🍻🍻🚴🏿♂️”
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Ted Gadd
“Goodonya Woody. Well done and best wishes for a safe and successful journey. But you are right, the Magpies are more active at this time of the year (than in March to August)!”
$72.45Received this donation 64 days ago
John
“Hi Ted, Thanks for your continuing support of the brave little Kids and also for your words of encouragement. And yep, our resident magpies and their butcherbird cousins are far more entertaining than the Collingwood variety were, this year😀”