Queenslanders are saddling up and riding their bikes around the clock to help critically injured kids.
Employees from Treasury Casino have taken on a 24-hour cycling challenge to raise funds for The Day of Difference Foundation.
Tom Kojrowicz reports.
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TRANSCRIPT
Each year, cycling challenges for The Day of Difference Foundation raise funds and awareness for injured children like Sophie Delezio.
Sophie was critically injured twice after being trapped under a burning car that crashed into a childcare centre in 2003 and again nearly three years later when she was hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing.
Sophie’s father and founder of Day of Difference Ron Delezio says despite yearly amputations to her leg, Sophie cherishes the life she has.
Ron Delezio, Founder Day of Difference: “She’s in very good spirits we’re very lucky, that, she’s got very high spirits inside and as a family we give her a ot of love, she’s got a lot of positive feelings and that’s why she’s still alive today.”
While it may be hard work to ride more than 1,000 kilometres in 24 hours the Treasury Casino employees say they are more than up for the challenge of two five-hour riding shifts each over the day.
Lee Kuhnell, Competitor: “Five hours? What’s 5 hours of our lives compared to little kids who are seriously injured in hospital.”
The funds raised will be used to buy specialist medical equipment and to help families like Ron and Sophie’s.”
Ron Delezio, Founder Day of Difference: “We need to give them the ability to have that strength and positive feeling and take care of them a little bit better.”
While the riders have brushed off the challenging aspects of the ride, Mr Delezio says their effort reflects the hardships faced by critically injured children.
Ron Delezio, Founder Day of Difference: “They’re feeling it it, they’re feeling what other kids go through the more they get involved with our charity.”
The riders will finish at 5am tomorrow.
Tom Kojrowicz, QUT News.