With a record 71 dashers taking part in this year's Variety Postie Bike Dash, the atmosphere on Sunday morning was electric.
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"We are riding the miles for the smiles," David Doherty 'Red Dog' said.
Hitting the road just after 9am om Sunday, after a slight re-route around a still partly flooded Burgmanns Lane, the race was waved to start by Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson.
Watch them take off in the video below:
Many newbies took part in this year's ride, one of which was Dusty Sista Keryn Barnett who was a little nervous to undertake the six day trek.
"It's something a bit outside the square, helping kids at the same time," she said.
Picking up the bike three months ago from a lady in Armidale, and decked er' out, complete with Fargo as a travel companion.
"I'm a breast cancer survivor, so that's why the pink - but I'm also a mad dragon racer, so there's a few things paying tribute to that too here," she laughed.
Over the last two years, Variety has supported a number of kids and families living across the NSW north-west including in Tamworth, Nambucca Heads, Glen Innes and Gunnedah.
Pete Brazel, pink dog and leader of the Postie Dogs team, was extremely excited to hit the road.
"We've done our fundraising, now to enjoy the end bit and see what they do with the money."
The Poste Dogs so far have raised $40,000, and the Wascally Wabbits were closing in on $20,000 - almost $60,000 between them.
Wascally Wabbits had three of the Davidson boys, Duncan, Lachie and Sam, who thought taking part in the ride would be a great thing to do, and ended up all buying bikes and getting into the groove together.
"We were talking about it, and said let's do it together so we just went for it," Duncan said.
In total, 71 fundraising riders, including 30 Variety newbies, will be part of a 90-person entourage travelling through the NSW north-west countryside.
It's the culmination of nine months of fundraising to support kids who are sick, disadvantaged or living with special needs in NSW.
Interim General Manager for Variety David Small said the record number of riders had signed up to take part in a year when fundraising is needed most.
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"Like many charities impacted by COVID, we are facing fundraising challenges at a time where demand for our help has never been higher," Mr Small said.
"We have been delighted by the number and diversity of riders - nearly half Dash veterans and half newbies and a mix of men and women aged 25 to 71."
Most of the recent enquiries for Variety support were related to education supplies and technology.
