The 15th annual Ride for Sick Kids Northern NSW saw 18 riders, both novice and experienced, leave Inverell on Tuesday morning on a 535 km journey to Newcastle, where they will arrive on Saturday.

The event raises funds for both the Tamworth and Newcastle Ronald McDonald Houses (RMHC), with the riders well on the way to reach $200,000 this year.

Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham, who is taking part in the ride, said 100 Tamworth families used the Newcastle Ronald McDonald House in the last 12 months.

"Riding through the regions that the houses support really opens our eyes up to really how far away some of these communities are, and the difference between the city and country in terms of services," he said.

"I love what RMHC is able to do for families."

On Tuesday Carinya senior students Brock Morley and Gabby Brown presented the organisation with a cheque for $1883.80, from a food night held last month - the largest school donation in the history of the ride.

The riders, and students, then heard from locals Karli and Andrew Scott, who spent five months at the Newcastle house when their child Darcy became critically ill with bone marrow failure.

"We were flown to John Hunter in just the clothes we had on," Mrs Scott said.

"To have people just say 'you're right, here's a bed, and a toothbrush and a meal was just incredible.

"Financially, and the emotional support was just incredible, we would have really struggled without Ronald McDonald House."

The riders will have breakfast at the Tamworth RMHC on Thursday morning, before taking on the 132 km slog to Singleton.

Donations can be made via the Ride for Sick Kids website.