Torres and Cape outreach cardiologists Dr Steve Sutcliffe and Dr Sean Nguyen take on the QSuper Cardiac Challenge in 2024. Photo: Supplied.
More than 200 hearts will be pumping on the road to Cooktown next month as cyclists gear up to pedal towards a healthier tomorrow for the 19th Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation (FNQHF) QSuper Cardiac Challenge.
Registrations for the monstrous Cairns to Cooktown ride – a 333-kilometre effort – have closed, and at T-minus six weeks, fundraisers have already managed to raise more than $95,000 towards life-saving cardiac services in the FNQ region.
FNQHF fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe said the challenge brought together all kinds of people who had been affected by cardiac health.
“We have patients that have had cardiac issues, we’ve had family members who have loved ones who’ve had cardiac issues, so they’re doing it in support of that person,” she said.
“We have a lot of medical practitioners that also do it; they do it because they love it, they love getting out there and they enjoy being with people who support the work that they do.”
With 24 rider teams, as well as individual supporters, Ms Duncombe said the 2025 fundraising goal was $400,000.
“A number of teams have done really well with their fundraising at the moment,” she said.
“When they get into it, as we get closer to the event, they can raise anything up to an average of $2,000 per rider.”
She said over the past 19 years, the event had allowed patients to receive care close to home, with the funding helping to equip the cardiac outreach team with equipment to travel to remote communities, including those on Cape York.
“We funded equipment that actually allows the outreach team to travel to places like Weipa, Atherton and Yarrabah,” she said.
“We also funded a vehicle for that cardiac outreach team, which people might’ve seen drive into Cooktown, and they’ve even thought about taking it up to Weipa.”
The QSuper Cardiac Challenge will take place over three days from 20-22 September.
