The cycling event was held to raise money for the three organisations that had provided tireless support and assistance to the Coombes family of Manilla, who lost their beautiful son Patrick in January.

Patrick, 5, had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in July 2013 and the three organisations which helped the family – Little Wings, Bear Cottage and Ronald McDonald House – had been marvellous in their support, Patrick’s grandfather, Rod Everingham said.

“That’s the reason that we wanted to do the ride – to help these organisations,” Mr Everingham said.

Little Wings, based at Bankstown Airport, had flown Patrick back and forth at least 20 times for treatment at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, he said.

Patrick had also stayed at Bear Cottage, in Manly, from December.

“Terminally ill children go there for their final days,” Mr Everingham said.

“It costs $3.2 million per year to run it.”

It was also, like Little Wings, not government funded, he said. 

Pedal for Pat saw 15 cyclists ride 325km, leave Wauchope at 7am last Thursday and arrive in Manilla around 12.30pm on Sunday. 

“They had to pay $400 to do the ride and have a minimum of $1000 in sponsorship,” Mr Everingham said.

“People have just been so fantastic, you know – one lady pulled us up on the road and gave us a $500 cheque.”

He said the event was “fantastic”, with no crashes and only three flat tyres recorded.

A raffle on October 31 of solar panels worth $3500 was also being held. You can get tickets from the link https://ij197.infusionsoft.com/app/page/pedal-for-pat

Pedal for Pat will become an annual event, the riders having decided to make it so halfway through the ride.