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To all Groups 9 & 10 Club Presidents:
The 2016 Ride the Bellarine Committee wish to record their sincere appreciation of the wonderful support of this year’s event from the Clubs and their members.
This year we were blessed with great support from Clubs, increased entrants, ideal weather for cycling, an improved route and a really strong fund-raising ethos within the riding group.
Approximately 110 volunteers, mostly Rotarians, contributed to the success of this year’s event. 110 Rotarians and friends worked together with Rotarians from different Clubs on a common project. 110 Rotarians and friends gave Rotary a fantastic image boost by guiding over 300 riders safely around the 105km course and those 300 riders were full of praise and admiration for the job done by the Rotary organisation. Please pass onto your Club members who volunteered, especially as course marshals, our sincere appreciation for their wonderful efforts.
This year the committee was able to attract two new corporate sponsors, helloworld and Aussie Home Loans. They joined TGM and Trek/Hendry Cycles as our major sponsors. I would also like to acknowledge the donations of accommodation made by Big 4 Tourist Park on Bellarine Highway and Boat Ramp Motel in Ocean Grove.
A stronger emphasis on fundraising within the cycling group this year has seen online donations and sponsorship jump significantly however in-club sponsorships and pledges this year have been disappointing with less Clubs participating this way. To date, over $17,000 has been raised through our corporate sponsors and on-line and with the individual Club pledges we believe we will reach close to $25,000. This figure will then be matched 2 for 1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to give a total contribution to the End Polio Now campaign of close to $75,000. As decided last year, the net proceeds of the 2016 Ride the Bellarine will be paid into The Rotary Foundation Trust (Parramatta) in support of the End Polio Now Campaign and that amount will be credited equally in the names of the 15 Clubs in Groups 9 and 10.
Clubs that have collected individual pledges and sponsorship from Club members should forward these amounts with individual donors’ details directly to the Rotary Foundation Trust (Parramatta) but also send a copy to Peter Simmons (peter.simons@simonsal.com.au) AND a copy to Tony Stewart ( tonystewart48@bigpond.com) or myself ( paton.ogr@gmail.com).
Based on the success of this year’s event, the Committee believes this should become an annual event.
John Paton
Chairman, Ride the Bellarine Committee
29 April 2016
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Lesley.
