Tamworth’s Simon Massey, Richard Johnston, Ryan Alderton and Jeremy Macpherson will participate in The Great Ocean Road Cycling Challenge in February.

The 300km-plus ride will 

take them from Geelong to 

Warrnambool.

Their toils will all be for charity with the ride one of several organised by 25000spins.

The non-profit business aims to reduce global poverty and runs different adventures to raise money for the various charities it supports, one of which is Compassion.

Compassion is a child advocacy organisation helping development through aid, sponsorship and 

programs.

“I heard about it through Compassion and I’m always up for a challenge,” Massey said.

“So are the other guys.”

It will be that – three straight days in the saddle and cycling about 100km a day.

None of them have really tackled anything like that before. Alderton has done a bit of cycling from his triathlon days, while Massey has participated in a ride from Sydney to Wollongong – on a mountain bike – but this will be a step up on that and will take some preparation.

“We’ll probably be doing two or three training rides during December and January,” Massey said.

There will 56 riders from all around Australia participating in the ride and as a group the Tamworth crew is hoping to raise at least $5000.

As part of their fundraising efforts they’re hosting a golf day at the Longyard on Sunday.

Registration starts at 10am with tee-off at 11am. 

Entry is $40 per person, which includes a barbecue lunch, drink and golf, or $200 for a team or corporate sponsorship.