For Immediate Release
26 October 2009
30 MATES RIDE TO THE NSW BORDER FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
The inaugural Beach2Border, a 225km bike ride from Port Melbourne to Echuca, will test the
strengths of 30 Victorian friends aged between 14 and 52, when they aim to complete it in 12
hours on October 30, 2009. The one-day event will include the physical challenge as well as
aiming to raise more than$20,000, to assist in muscular dystrophy research.
The riders participating in Beach2Border have a simple motto - “We aim to raise awareness of
this devastating, progressive muscle-destroying disorder – muscular dystrophy. But more
importantly to instill hope, and that hope comes in the form of research, and most importantly,
money for research”
According to Craig Le Sueur, one of the riders and organisers of Beach2Border said close friends
Brett and Katrina have a 7 year old son Ben, who is in the early stages of Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy. There is an opportunity to make a difference to Ben’s life through the Beach2Border
Cycling Challenge.
“The possibility of finding a cure at some stage over the next 5 years will make all the difference
for many boys like Ben. This disorder not only affects the young boys diagnosed, but the families
and friends around them. I have three young girls of my own. Each day my girls smiling faces
remind me of how precious life is. Boys like Ben deserve a cure. Every dollar helps.” he said.
This group of social riders is thrilled with the challenge of riding from beach to border, with
many riding in honour of Ben, who loves to ride his bike, but inevitably will be confined to a
wheelchair by the time he is 12.
All proceeds from Beach2Border will be donated to the National Muscular Dystrophy Research
Centre (NMDRC) in Parkville, Victoria to further research muscular dystrophy.
Making their way from Station Pier in Port Melbourne at 6am, the team will ride through
Melbourne to the Hume Highway, before stopping in Hudson Park, Kilmore for morning tea.
Lunch will be between 12 and 1pm in Heathcote at Gaffney’s Bakery and an afternoon stop at the
Lions Park in Rochester at 4pm. The riders will ride through Echuca, over the NSW border into
Moama by 6pm to meet up with supporters and kids affected by muscular dystrophy.
Beach2Border is an event held under the ChallengeMD! banner for the Muscular Dystrophy
Association (MDA). Previous bike rides to Vietnam, Cambodia and China have raised $1 million
for muscular dystrophy. Several riders from Beach2Border have participated in past Challenges
including Tour Duchenne, a Sydney to Melbourne bike ride which raised $750,000 in March
2009.
About Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a muscle destroying disorder that affects one in every 1,000 Australian
men, women and children. Duchenne MD confines boys as young as 8 to wheelchairs and
drastically reduces their lifespan. To date there is no cure.
ENDS
For more information regarding the event, or to arrange photo opportunities and interviews,
contact
Lyndsey Doherty
Publicist – Muscular Dystrophy Association
03 9320 9555
pr@mda.org.au
NEWS 
