MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research fundraiser has nearly reached its participant capacity for the 2023 event in only four weeks.
MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research fundraiser managed by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research has nearly reached its participant capacity for the 2023 event in only four weeks.
Almost 1500 riders have signed up and over $84,700 has been raised in the past month for the 200 kilometre charity bike ride next October.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of WA business and community teams and the speed with which they have registered for the 2023 MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research,” Director of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research Professor Peter Leedman said.
Sponsored by mining company MACA, the previous event for 2022 took close to seven months to reach maximum capacity.
Looking back at 2016, major bike ride fundraisers were beginning to see participation numbers dwindle with several organisers of these charity events at the time speaking about charity fatigue from riders.
The MACA Cancer Ride experienced a drop in participation, from 1,311 riders in 2014, to 1,200 in 2015 and about 1,000 in 2016.
Harry Perkins Institute ceased the charity bike ride from its former third-party management in 2018.
Corporate partnerships manager Steve Currie said the Harry Perkins Institute was a beneficiary of the charity bike ride and the institute wanted to maximise the funds directly contributing to its vital cancer research.
“The way we manage the event has allowed it to be uplifted and the exponential growth since then has been incredible,” Mr Currie said.
“Participation is through the roof and that can be attributed to our supporters whom we’ve curated relationships with.”
Prof Leedman said this is a remarkable situation.
“We are indebted to our loyal and new riders wanting to make a difference to cancer research,” Prof Leedman said.
Several cancer survivors and patients are set to participate in next year’s fundraiser wearing flags to identify them from other riders.
