1. 32 Wednesday November 11, 2015 NEWS
More than 2700 riders in Snowy Ride 2015
Nick Chapman
The 15th annual Honda
Snowy Ride took place on
Saturday November 7 and has
been hailed as a success by
police and organisers.
The ride is organised to help
raise funds for the Steven Walter
Children’s Cancer Foundation,
this year raising almost
$250,000.
The event attracted an
estimated 2700 riders and
pillions, travelling through
the Snowy Mountains and
convening in Thredbo on
Saturday night.
Steven Walter, who was an
avid motorcycle fan, passed
away at age 19 after an eight-
year battle with cancer. Before
he died, he asked his friends
and family to do what they could
to raise money for childhood
cancer. They came up with the
idea for the Snowy Ride and
have since raised close to six
million dollars over 15 years and
attracted thousands of riders to
the area.
“Fifteen years on from Steve’s
passing and the Snowy Ride
is still attracting riders from all
walks of life to contribute to
our vital cause. I think Steve
would be so proud of what is
being achieved in his memory,”
said Sue Walter, Director of the
Steven Walter Children’s Cancer
Foundation.
The foundation also assists
families of a child suffering
from cancer by hosting them
in Thredbo and offering them a
small break from their regular
routine.
“We hosted six families this
year and they’ve had a ball
with helicopter rides courtesy
of the Royal Australian Navy,
motorcycle rides thanks to the
Australian Goldwing Association
and plenty of other great
activities. The families are cared
for by a dedicated group of
volunteers and the program is
generously sponsored by Snowy
Hydro.” Sue said.
Aside from raising money
for the charity, visitors for the
Snowy Ride inject a healthy
amount of money in to the local
economy, as it is the biggest
event in the Snowy Mountains
region outside of the ski season.
Monaro police are considering
the event a success, issuing
a press release thanking the
public and everyone involved in
the 2015 Snowy Ride.
“A high[ly] visible police
presence in the Alpine area over
the weekend enabled a safe
journey for most riders, and
police thank the vast majority of
riders and the local community
for sharing the road safely and
adhering to the road rules,” the
release said.
Cooma Car Club members helped pick up and drive children involved in the ride at Thredbo. The scene in Sharp Street, Cooma, on Friday afternoon.
Left: Mery Raynor of Candelo and Bill Guthrie of Delegate shared in the companionship of the Snowy Ride. Middle: The busy check-in in Centennial Park on Friday,
Right: Bombala riders, Rudi Wertenbach, Eric Edgecombe, Pat Lomas, Merv Raynor (Candelo) and Darren Cotterill took part in Saturday’s Snowy Ride.
The Cooma Motor Fest was another busy check-in point on Saturday. A welcome cheque for $10,000 to the Steven Walter Children’s Cancer
Foundation from Thredbo. Below: bikers in Thredbo.