Twenty-five riders in the Post2Coast chugged into Tamworth on their postie bikes yesterday as part of a six-day odyssey from Inverell to Newcastle. 

The idea was conceived by Inverell residents Clint McSpedden and Stuart Griffin to raise money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and the John Hunter Hospital neonatal unit.

Already the group has well and truly exceeded its fundraising target and yesterday, upon reaching the Westpac helicopter base in Tamworth, was closing in on the $30,000 mark.

Co-organiser Clint McSpedden said he was astonished at the generosity the riders had encountered along the way.

“It’s been an incident-free ride, which is really good,” he said. 

“The bikes are going perfectly – they’re marvellous little machines. 

“A lot of these communities are going through a pretty hard time and they’ve just opened their wallets and donated every little bit they can. It’s really quite emotional, actually.”

The ride is especially close to the heart of fellow organiser Stuart Griffin, whose twin daughters were born 15 weeks premature.

They spent 187 days in the hospital’s neonatal unit – at a cost of $10,000 a day – and Mr Griffin is desperate to repay some of the debt he feels he owes. Donations can be made until the end of March into a special bank account, BSB 932-000 Account 732784.