Nova 106.9 radio presenter Mitch Lewis is gearing up for this week’s Cycle for Cancer, having trained on a stationary bike in the studio during the breakfast show, while raising money to support improved treatments for people fighting cancer.

Lewis, a Cycle for Cancer Ambassador, is the sport reporter on Nova’s Ash, Luttsy & Susie O’Neill breakfast show and married to Mater Private Hospital Brisbane nurse Sarah Lewis.

The Brisbane father-of-four said he had a valid reason to do the ride with family, including Sarah’s grandparents, friends and co-workers going through cancer.

Cycle for Cancer is returning for a second year from 5 – 11 September and is a virtual event that allows participants to challenge themselves anywhere and anyway they choose.

It’s a cause bound to hit close to home with 9,401 Queenslanders losing their lives to cancer and 31,327 people in the state diagnosed with the disease each year[i].

Lewis said: “I’ve been reading the sports news while on the bike and I have been really puffed. I thought I better put in some practice before I do the 100 km.”

“I’m not much of a cyclist but ready for the challenge.”

Sarah said her grandmother had fought breast cancer successfully; however, her grandfather sadly died of lung cancer.

“I worked in the Oncology Ward at Mater when I first started my career and I know first-hand how this disease affects families,” she said.

Mater Foundation Senior Manager Community Engagement Genevieve Dunn is leading from the front and will be guiding registrants through the virtual event.

“I grew up in a regional town and long before I had a driver’s licence, riding my bike was a ticket for freedom and adventure,” she said.

“I rode everywhere — school, the pool, training, the shops — you name it.”

Ms Dunn said she would start her 100 km on a stationary bike while scouting out a local loop she’s comfortable riding.

“I haven’t been on a bike for years, and I’m excited to explore my neighbourhood again,” she said. “I love the options and flexibility Cycle for Cancer offers, as it fits around everyone’s lives.”

The aim of the event is for people of all abilities and ages to test themselves to spin, sweat and clock up 100 km over seven days, while fundraising to support cancer research at Mater.

Whether you clock up the kilometres on a mountain bike, exercise bike, e-bike or pro-issue road bike, Cycle for Cancer is about having fun while making a genuine difference.

Mater Foundation Executive Director Andrew Thomas said Mater is Queensland’s largest not-for-profit healthcare provider that operates 11 hospitals across the state.

“Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there’s been a shift in the way we lead our lives,” he said.

“One of the upsides of this has been the rise of virtual events — such as Cycle for Cancer — that enable us to participate alongside our colleagues and communities across Queensland to support cancer research at Mater.”

Ms Dunn said Cycle for Cancer was a great way to connect with friends, family, and colleagues — whether it’s packing your activewear and heading to a spin class with your colleagues after work or getting out and exploring new areas on a weekend.

“It’s a chance to give back to those fighting cancer, now and in the future,” she said.

Click here for more information about Cycle for Cancer or to register and take on the ride of your life.