Connor Burns is participating in the Great Cycle Challenge for the second time this October, and is hoping to top the $2500 he raised last year for the charity.

For the keen mountain biker, participating in the challenge was an easy decision to make. 

“I like riding my bike, and it’s for a good cause,” he said. “It’s good to do them both at the same time.” 

Last year, he went well over the 300 kilometre mark, riding 380 kilometres over the month of October. 

“It felt really good, but at the end I was a bit sore,” he said. “I’m hoping to ride at least 300 kilometres around here and at Derby, my favourite trail is Blue Tier.”

Mum Sheree Burns said Connor saw an ad for the fundraising campaign pop up on her Facebook page, and when he saw it was for children with cancer, immediately suggested having a go himself. 

The Great Cycle Challenge Australia has over 10,000 cyclists participating this year, with $678,000 raised already. It involves cyclists setting a personal riding goal, that friends and family sponsor them to complete.

Funds raised go to the Children’s Medical Research Institute, who are trying to find a cure for what is the largest killer of children by disease in Australia, taking the lives of three children every week. 

Connor was the first one to join in the challenge from the north-east that Burns knows of, but he’s helping to spread the word.

“I’m proud of him, I’m extremely proud of what he’s achieved last year and what he’s hoping to do this year,” Burns said.

“Last year we started off with a goal of a couple of hundred kilometres and $500 in donations and as the donations came in and the kilometres were exceeded he just upped it and upped it. 

“Connor was the only particiapant last year and got the word out there, and now there’s quite a few doing it from the North-East area.” 

Connor has an online donations page, tins in local shops and eateries, and is also organising a raffle. 

With the help of Sheree, he sent emails to various businesses explaining what he was doing and why, and ended up with donated prizes including a Tamar River Cruises cruise, a Kookaburra Ridge quad bike tour, Jay-Lee Car Detailing voucher. Sheree will be selling tickets at Scottsdale Woolworths and Bridport IGA in September and October. 

Connor’s not slowing down anytime soon: his dream is to be a professional mountain bike rider.  

Support Connor at greatcyclechallenge.com.au/riders/connorburns.