St Georges Terrace traded suits for Lycra this week as Business News hosted the first-ever Corporate Cycling Challenge.
This high-octane stationary relay supports the iconic Hawaiian Ride for Youth and the vital mental health services of Youth Focus.
While the traditional ride covers 700km from Albany to Perth, this corporate version brought the grind to the CBD.
80 business leaders took on 30-minute stints with a goal of 700km.
By the final whistle, they had obliterated the target, recording 1,670.4km and raising $32,000.
The event marks a major scale-up for long-term supporters.
Australian Transit Group chief commercial officer Simon Williams noted that Buswest has supported the ride since 2018.
Chief executive Ben Doolan has personally ridden in the event for eleven years.
"Our team has stayed pretty consistent over the years, with a core group of regular riders who really get what the event is about: camaraderie, teamwork, and backing Youth Focus in raising funds to install mental health counsellors at schools, predominantly across remote communities," Mr Williams said.
"Historically, our fundraising has been all about private get-togethers with family and friends, loading everyone onto buses for a day at the races and sharing a few laughs along the way.
"This year, we decided to step it up and partner with our friends at Business News to do something bigger and reach more people. That's how the Corporate Cycling Challenge was born: the goal is to cover 680km over the day on stationary bikes, the same distance as the Ride for Youth from Albany to Perth."
The participant list featured a prominent mix of WA industry and governance.
Riders included Tony and Frank Galati of Spudshed, CommBank’s Gary McGrath, Hugh Brown, Chris Wilson, Luke Whelan, and Harrison Deloub.
Premier Roger Cook rode the final stretch and expressed his pride in the initiative.
"Youth Focus plays a vital role in supporting youth mental health, and all fundraising at the Challenge provides boosts to young Western Australians," he said.
"I'm thrilled to have joined the participants of the Corporate Cycling Challenge and the Hawaiian Ride for Youth — there may be some sore legs afterwards, but every kilometre ridden drives awareness, connection and support."
Since 1994, Youth Focus has been a leading mental health provider in Western Australia.
The organisation exists because almost every week, a young person under the age of 25 dies by suicide.
Their vision is a world where mental health does not stop a young person from being who they want to be.
Business News Chief executive Charles Kobelke praised the collective effort of the riders.
"I'm really proud to support this cycling fundraiser for Youth Focus and everyone taking part. It's a great cause and I love seeing the business community really getting behind it," he said.
The day’s success was underpinned by a vast network of sponsors, including Revo Fitness, Gage Roads, Business News, Fern Grove Wines, Frasers, Deanne Bailey, Mark Hector, Eastcourt Foundation, Ben Devenish, WA Limestone, Multiplex, Graham Nash, Halo Civil Engineering, Lavan, Friendlies Eye Care, Mandurah Raw Prawns Veterans Rugby Team, Vector Advisors, Entertainment Enterprises, Chris Wilson Fitness Studio, Pickaxe, Silverleaf, Humich Group, and Russell James.
Reflecting on the day, Mr Williams looked toward the future impact.
"With a full summer of training behind us, the riding won't be the hard part for our team, but we're hoping that by getting a mix of business leaders and friends on the bikes, we can introduce them to the work of Youth Focus and, dare I say, inspire them to make a contribution to this truly worthy cause."
