Five Perth blokes will be pushing themselves to the limit this weekend, cycling 600km around Rottnest Island in just two days to raise vital funds for people experiencing homelessness.
The Rotto600 challenge from October 23 to 24 will have Jason Hobson, Nige Broomham, Jason Holmes, Vince Di Candilo and Nash Thorp complete about 22 laps of a 27 km loop around the Island.
The team has already raised $70,000 towards its ambitious $100,000 fundraising goal, with all donations supporting We Are Mobilise, a charity helping people experiencing or at risk of homelessness access safe and stable housing.
The effort is part of Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge, an annual fundraising initiative started by ultramarathon runner and Young Australian of the Year Nedd Brockmann.
Mr Brockmann is known for his own unbelievable fundraising efforts — completing 50 marathons in 50 days and running across Australia in 46 days, averaging about 86km per day.
For Mr Hobson and Mr Broomham, the challenge follows their efforts last year, when they rode over 1100km over 10 days as part of Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge, raising $29,000 between them.
The experience inspired the pair to create a uniquely WA challenge that would push them physically while raising awareness and funds for people without a safe place to call home.
“We’re fortunate enough to be in a position to do something about this. Two hard days on a bike is nothing next to not having a safe place to sleep,” Mr Hobson and Mr Broomham said.
“Last year hurt and we signed straight back up. Once you see where the money actually goes it’s pretty hard to sit it out.”
Mr Hobson has set a personal fundraising target of $50,000, with the team working towards its combined goal of $100,000.
“I have the ability to suffer for a few days and if that effort can help people who don’t have the same opportunities, support or safe place to call home, then it’s absolutely worth doing,” he said.
We Are Mobilise chief executive Noah Yang said the riders’ efforts demonstrated how the community could help address homelessness.
“It’s incredible to see five blokes put their bodies on the line for something bigger than themselves. What they’ve raised already covers more than five years of housing through our Mobilise Kickstarter program, which changes lives,” he said.
“Homelessness is solvable, and this is proof that people want to be part of the solution. The beauty of challenges like this is that once you push beyond your own limits, you start to understand what else might be possible, like solving homelessness.”
According to the organisers, 122,000 people across Australia do not have a safe place to sleep on any given night.
A $36 donation can cover one night of housing, while $250 can cover a week.
The team has also been fundraising through community events, including an evening with Mr Brockmann at Si Paradiso in Highgate late last month.
About 300 people attended the event, which raised more than $10,000.
The event also launched a raffle for a Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3 road bike valued at $9000, with tickets available for $36 and the winner to be drawn on October 31.
Donations can still be made through the Rotto600 fundraising campaign website.