Riding across Australia to beat cancer
A group of experienced off-road motorcyclists are set to ride across Australia to raise money for cancer treatment and one of them will be popping into meet the Mayor of Dudley ahead of their epic adventure.
The team, all of whom have a direct and personal connection with a cancer patient or survivor will be travelling across the entire country from the Westernmost “Steep Point” to the Easternmost “Cape Byron”.
They’ll be riding off road and sleeping in tents. The ride should take 24 days and will be covered by Australia’s channel 9 news as well as featuring on the group’s YouTube channel.
Stephen (Steve) Griffiths from Stourbridge will be calling into see the Mayor before flying out for the ride in July. Steve accepted the challenge back in 2023 committing to raise money for the McGrath Foundation which funds specialist breast cancer nursing services in an area of great need - remote areas of Australia.
Since then he himself contracted and recovered from throat cancer, but throughout his own chemo and radiotherapy he was determined to still undertake the ride. Steve will be splitting his own fundraising efforts between the foundation and the ENT dept at New Cross and Russell’s hall hospitals who supported him through his cancer treatment.
Steve said:
“Awareness is the key part of cancer treatment …knowing the signs and not to be scared to go see a doctor for a check-up. I wasn’t a smoker but I contracted throat cancer, I’m so glad I went to see my doctor. I was lucky as mine was caught early and now I’m clear, with regular check-ups for the next 5 yrs.
“This is going to be a massive challenge for me after my treatment. I’ll be riding with a weakened immune system and no saliva (so the desert is going to be really tricky!) I had to learn how to swallow again and have to drink a pint of water with all food hence this being a huge personal challenge on top of an already tough challenge, but it’s all worth it.
“I hope between us we can make a difference in how people view cancer, hoping we can save lives with quicker self-diagnosis of a problem that needs to be seen by a doctor no matter how small.”
Councillor Hilary Bills, the Mayor of Dudley, said:
“It was wonderful to meet Steve and hear all about the group, the challenge and the work of the McGrath Foundation.
“Steve knows first-hand just how important it is to be aware of the signs of cancer and of getting things checked out as soon as possible. This is a huge personal challenge for Steve, having to manage the side effects of his treatment in the gruelling heat of the Australian outback. He tells me that it’s not been done before by someone with his health condition, so he’ll be flying the flag for us in Oz.
“I wish the team all the best on their adventure and hope they raise lots of money for the foundation.
Follow the team on their YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Outback-KCAAA/featured