A bike ride was held in Queensland to support the air medical service
The town of Prairie in the Australian state of Queensland hosted the annual Tour De Prairie charity bike ride in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). The event was held in memory of a local boy, Conall, who died in May from a rare genetic disorder—Gould’s syndrome, according to ABC News Australia.
Prairie, home to about 100 people, is located approximately 340 kilometers southwest of Townsville. During the bike ride, dozens of participants in bright colors cross Flinders Highway, kicking up red dust with their wheels. This year’s event marked the 19th in the history of the Tour de Prairie.
The event is organized by Prairie State School. Students, parents, teachers, and other community members bike or walk seven kilometers to the Railview cattle station. There, they play games and have lunch, and some participants then bike back to town. According to Bernie Merton, treasurer of the P&C School Committee, the event raises about $1,000 each year.
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Conall’s father, Hugh Westcott, said the RFDS has been extremely important to his family. He said the service has made several flights to Townsville, and the medical staff have saved his son’s life on multiple occasions.
In previous years, the Tour De Prairie has supported Cows for Cambodia, the Cancer Council, and fundraising efforts for a chemotherapy unit at the Hugueneden Hospital. The event began in 2007, when funds were directed to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in memory of Alex, the daughter of Michelle Fraier, a cattle rancher from Railview Station. The girl died from complications related to cerebral palsy a few days after her eighth birthday. The children also collect donations from tourists and travelers who stop in town.
