A team of Riverina farmers are preparing to trade the plough for the pedals this September with the inaugural Active Farmers Ride for Resilience.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cycling up to 480km around the Riverina, the team of 40 will travel from Forbes to Mangoplah through Young and Temora over three days.
"The distance seems a long way, but we're not going through the Snowy Mountains so there are not too many hills to get over," said Active Farmers founder Ginny Stevens.
"It'll be an undulating ride with hopefully some good views of canola fields and lots of green."
With still a month to go until the close of registrations, about half the team of 40 has already been filled.
"There are a lot coming from the communities we'll be travelling through," Ms Stevens said.
"We've got a bunch from Wagga and Leeton and further too."
Related:
Each rider on the journey is tasked with raising up to $1500 which will resource emotional and physical health workshops in small towns.
"It's about raising awareness for the benefits of group fitness," Ms Stevens said.
"When you're looking after yourself, you'll manage things better and deal with stress a lot better."
Founded two years ago, Ms Stevens originally saw the Active Farmers group as something of a small community venture.
But, following the success of the Active Farmers Games in Temora earlier this year, it has grown to such a size that Ms Stevens has given up her nine-to-five bank managing job to pursue its operation full-time.
"We've got a personal trainer running fitness sessions every week in about 35 small farming communities," Ms Stevens said.
"We're now opening up another three in Victoria. It's been very surprising to see how quickly we've grown.
"In March 2015 it was my hobby group in Uranquinty and Mangoplah, and we went from two groups to 25 in about two-and-a-half years. I did not expect that."
Registration for the ride will be open until the end of next month, with the limited option to commit to just one day's ride.