Put the (bike) pedals to the metal for prostate cancer

Cyclists will be putting their bums on seats in a new marathon cycling event which aims to raise over $100K to help fund prostate cancer research and support those living with the disease.

Pedal4Prostate is a four-hour relay race around Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in October which pits teams against each other to see who can ride the farthest in the allotted time.

The endurance cycling event is the first of its kind, allowing keen cyclists – and amateurs who just want to give it a go – to tackle the bends, straights and many hills of the Hampton Downs track.

All proceeds raised from the event will go to The Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand to fund NZ based research for diagnosis and treatment options, provide peer support for men and their families dealing with prostate cancer, and educate the public about the disease.

Foundation CEO Graeme Woodside says those that take to the track on the 8th of October will make a world of difference to those touched by prostate cancer.

“Every year 3000 kiwi men are affected by this disease and for us raising awareness is key. Pedal 4 Prostate has been created as a fun way to raise vital funds but also inspire people to seek more information about the disease and get regular checks.”

The concept is that teams of four will compete in a relay styled race over the duration of four hours, in that time only one rider takes the track at a time, so the time can be divided suited to individual fitness levels.

The goal is to collectively do as many laps as possible in the time limit with lots of prizes up for grabs.
To put that into perspective, the average Tour De France rider can maintain a speed of 40km/h. At that speed, they could complete 17 laps of Hampton Downs per hour meaning in the four hours, they would have cycled over 170km or from Auckland to Cambridge, and some.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation is passionate about empowering men to take their health seriously, get regular checks and make informed decisions about diagnosis and treatment.

To support this worthy cause, head to www.pedal4prostate.org.nz and register your team NOW! Early Bird pricing starts at $150 pp ($600 per team) with a fundraising minimum of $250 per person and is only for a limited time, so get in quick, T&C’s apply.