AFTER about 12,000 kilometres cycling around Australia's outskirts in 127 days, Kim Evans arrived in Launceston yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 57-year-old is 3000kilometres short of completing his Devil n Me Around Ozee - Ride for No MND, which began on May 31 to raise $1 million for the Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia.
Mr Evans's best friend and brother-in-law Bob Delaney died of the muscle debilitating disease in 2010 after a five-year battle and Mr Evans promised he would ride around the country.
Mr Evans started from Lismore, in New South Wales, and headed north, stopping at places such as Brisbane, Darwin, Broome, Margaret River, Adelaide and Melbourne before arriving in Tasmania.
"I've got a little cross that I'm wearing with his ashes in it, so he can come along for the ride also," he said.
"I have had my mother and father-in-law die in the middle of all this, which has caused a few delays.
"It has been really rewarding and fun, but it is tough.
"I have had showers with two emus watching on, slept metres from saltwater crocodiles, had a big 15-foot carpet snake go through my tent, an elephant in Perth and camels.
"Since I started I have lost 18 kilograms - I was 107kg when I started."
Mr Evans and his limited support crew had raised about $60,000 to date and averaged 126kilometres a day at 33km/h.
Motor Neurone Disease Australia ambassador Guy Barnett said one Australian died from the disease every day and there was no cure.
He said there were an estimated 1400 Australians living with the disease, most of whom will die within three years of prognosis.
For more information or to donate visit www.nomnd.com.au.