Here To There (H2T) Cycle Challenge

By Andrew Bloxsom

Share this page

Finally locked in new date

Hi everyone, just an update that with all the lockdowns etc we have finally locked in our date (yes nearly 12 months on from the original) and we will be setting out on Thursday 15th September 2022.

I'm both excited that we are going to get this on the road but also scared as I'm a little behind in my training but pushing hard to get there.

Date change

Big news that nearly everyone is dealing with but due to the extension of the lockdown for Sydney, and the rest of the crew coming from QLD and VIC, we have made the decision to move the ride back to now start on 6th November.

I’ve taken a stand against blood cancer and mental wellbeing

For those that aren’t aware this year sees 5 years that I’ve been living with Leukaemia since being diagnosed, through a routine checkup, back in May 2016. Through this and the journey that both myself and my family have had to experience, I’m pinching a phase from long distance cycling machine and friend Rupert Guinness, this year will see me using the “Power of the Pedal” to not just help myself but many.

Hearing the words “you have blood cancer” turns lives upside down, as my family has experienced firsthand. These first hand experiences of mine include items like a suicide attempt, mental breakdown, isolation, reduction in mental capacity, struggling to focus at work, long term depression, bullying of my kids and just the different way that people treat you as you have the “cancer” word linked to you. On top of having to adjust to all the medications.

Blood cancer creates a scary, uncertain future filled with difficult decisions.  It threatens to steal from people the one thing they need most during the months and sometimes years of treatment… hope, which I know about as I went through a long period of time where I thought my family was better off without me being alive.  However through the amazing support of many, including the love of my family and friends, the healthcare system linked to the Prince of Wales Hospital and the Leukaemia Foundation I’ve been able to turn this around.

So to all of you…we can all change this! And I’m trying to…and this is not just for people with a blood cancer but the numerous types of diseases and mental battles out there. This includes just dealing with this Covid-19 pandemic.

As part of this and to continue something that I love to do and has been a significant part of my mental and physical health plan in my management of Leukaemia, which is cycling, we are going to be taking many pedal strokes to tackle this.

The “we” being myself, my brother (Matt) and my mate (Shannon Moir). We are really putting ourselves out there is year by cycling from Sydney to Brisbane leaving on Saturday 6th November 2021. This journey will see us cycle nearly 1200kms in eight days taking us through some great little towns up the NSW and QLD coastal regions to arrive in Brisbane on Saturday 13th November 2021.  We will be lucky to have some people join us for a day here and there and also my wife Tracey, for the final three days as we leave from Grafton for our remaining 470kms.

N.B. Our original plan was to do this in September but the pandemic has forced a Plan B. This revised data is all pending border lockdowns otherwise I will be tackling a journey on my own, as Matt is in Queensland and Shannon in Victoria, which will see me tackle just over 1300kms in eight days throughout Sydney…not the ideal but with this pandemic you need to have a Plan C now also.

To tackle these #mentalmiles that we will be covering needs a lot of preparation and this training and mental battles are a significant part of giving me back my hope and also making me a better person, husband, father and friend. The medical advancements in the blood cancer space have been amazing but I truly have benefited the most from the mental support provided to me through the Leukaemia Foundation.

Through this challenge we are raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation, which is a cause that I care deeply for and your donation to our fundraising page means the world to me.    

Event Information

Thursday 15th September 06:00 - 15:00

My Achievements

Congrats! You've hit your goal!

$80 raised - you've given a family a night of emergency accommodation!

You've covered genetic testing!

You've given a family a whole weeks accommodation near treatment

$1,000 raised - you've made a tube gene test with state-of-the-art-technology possible

You've covered 3 months of lab costs for vital blood cancer research

You've fund life changing research for 3 months

Thank you to my Supporters

$158.25

Brent Blackman

nice job boys

$55.92

Blackman Family

Congratulations guys! Amazing effort!

$55.92

Ros Linford

$55.92

Melissa Hoad

Legends!!!!

$211

Damion Ryan

Bloody superb!

$55.92

Shane Baker

$55.92

Karen & Paul Beale

Amazing Effort with you all the way.

$30

Cameron Callaghan

Cycle hard!

$105.50

Kate Baker

Great effort Shannon and cyclists .

$31.65

Renee Frost

You are a legend Andrew!!

$31.65

Glendry

You guys rock. Well done.

$84.40

Huw Beckett

All the best blocka and team! Great effort lads.

$55.92

William Charles

$53

Justine And David Smith

Go Blocka and Team....u are all an inspiration!!!!

$105.50

Mark Andrews

$55.92

Anonymous

Go Blocka!!

$55.92

Sandy Nunn

Boys, thanks for taking a stand against blood cancer

$30

Matthew S

$55.92

Kristy Brown

$31.65

Mitch Nunn

My mum told me about the ride. My mum is Sandy Nunn.

$52.75

La Rosa Family

Go Andrew!

$55.92

Barney Solomon

Inspirational! May you have smooth roads and tail winds

$31.65

Kelsey

$520

Anonymous

To my fav Bloxsom Ride like the wind . You’ve got this ! CC

$31.65

Bruce Julian

Missed my invite. So disappointed

$200

Mike Ward

Great job guys - enjoy the ride

$105.50

The Mahony's

Andrew, Matthew and Shannon, All the best for a safe and enjoyable ride and hope the weather is kind to you. Trevor and Jenny

$105.50

Terry Mckendry

Hope all goes well on the long ride this week Andrew.You are such a quality person and your attitude to life is an inspiration to us all..Live and blessings to you and your beautiful family.🙏🏻💖

$30

Winifred Louise Mcpherson Mcpherson

More power to you ALL

$1.02k

Granite Vale

We’d pay double if you did the ride in a Safari Suit. Next time? From all at Granite Vale.

$55.92

Barry & Cecily

Travel safely Andrew, Mat & Shannon.

$1,000

Aunty Pat

Wish I was there - my knees just aren’t up to it. Good luck Andrew, Matt and Shannon.

$105.50

Julie Stanley

Good luck Andrew! Just remember to keep tapping away when the going gets tough! X

$55.92

Dse

$55.92

Katherine Cowan

All the very best to you and your team. Stay safe.

$55.92

Elise Noot

Good luck guys!

$55.92

Didda

We are so bloody proud of you Blocka and team!

$105.50

Efim Elski

Great work Andrew and team! Have a safe trip

$158.25

Laura, Chris And Lads

Good work mate

$105.50

Greg Smart

Fantastic work, Blocka.

$84.40

Glenn Mansfield

Great cause.... Good luck with your amazing ride!! Hope its not too painful on the legs and ass!

$208.80

Hope-jones'

Good on you Blocka. You are an inspiration. May there be a tail wind the whole way! Steve. Ruth, Will and Abi

$83.52

Jenni Parousis

$55.33

Jo & Steve Quinn

Great work. All the best!!

$83.52

Mike Newell

Go Andrew. More power to your peddle!

$500

Stephen Ainsworth

$55.33

Gary Parker

All the best, Blocka!

$55.33

Michael Llewellyn

Good luck on the ride Blox!

$156.60

Timothy Brighton

All the best for the ride. Hope COVI is clear by then.

$55.33

Carl Wills

Kia Kaha Blocka! All the best!

$83.52

Mike H

pedal hard mate.

$261

Mike Ward

Great job mate

$208.80

Kristen Bassett

$55.33

Dave Taverner

Good luck Blocka! If we aren't locked down we'll give you a wave as you pass through the Goldie :)

$104.40

Gary Grieshaber

You are an inspiration and source of strength to many Andrew, including myself. Very excited to see you take this journey and follow your preparation on Strava. Cheers!

$104.40

Paul Houtkooper

$31.32

Glen Hendry

Sounds like an awesome - but difficult - road trip! Good on you Blocker.

$31.32

Anonymous

$55.33

Warwick Kowalczyk

$55.33

Jaco Rossouw

You're a good man Blocka. Such a privilege to know and work with you. Wish I lived closer, would have loved to join you guys on the bikes.

$104.40

Darryl Shakespeare

$104.40

Alan Vannice

Hey Pal, Your the best. We love you here in the states, I hope Shannon can make it up to ride with you. Take care my friend!

$31.32

Keith Sholes

Be Strong and Pedal on!

$5.02k

Christopher Bruce

From all of us at ReportsNow, keep up the fight and keep winning! Andrew, you are an inspiration to all. Here's to all the good things to come!

$104.40

James, Trish, Laura And Hamish

All the best Andrew, the ride will be a challenging but rewarding experience.

$104.40

Bel & Dave Wotherspoon

You’re amazing Bloxie xx

$55.33

Aaron And Katherineblackwell

You are amazing and we are so proud of you.

$104.40

Jenelle Druce

Hi Andrew, I had no idea. Truly inspirational. Good luck and I look forward to Krispy Kremes if you ever get out of lockdown, Regards Jenelle

$100

Ben O'malley

With the bottle of Riccadonna, she whispered from behind into my ear, "The balcony is the place to be". As I turned to acknowledge the sentiment I realised it was old Bruce playing tricks on me. Brucie, you devious mind trickster...

$100

Glenn Ryan

$104.40

Mike Hill

Please no photos in lycra.

$138.85

Joel Mikkelsen

Inspiring mate, I never knew this was something that affected you. All the best for your amazing journey!

$53

Nicolas Prasetyo

All the best Andrew!

$55.33

Ant & Ummi Bates

<3

$55.33

Scot Mccoll

Good luck Blocka, hope you get to ride with the others.

$104.40

Vickie Mcgregor

Thanks for sharing your amazing story of courage during hard times. For such an outwardly positive person I think your message will give a lot of people dealing with their own struggles hope.

$104.40

Bonnie Giles

$104.40

Millie, Bronte And Peppa

Go get them Dad. Love Millie, Bronte and Peppa