Fighting child poverty, building a closer relationship with his dad, getting fit… UQ alumnus Jon Pfeffer has plenty of reasons to cycle across Australia.
The 24-year-old Wilston local and former UQ engineering student will cycle from Brisbane to Broome with his father and stepbrother next month to raise awareness and money for child-centred development agency, Plan.
Plan is one of the world’s largest community development organisations and works to help end child poverty in Asia, Africa and Central and South America.
Mr Pfeffer, who completed his mechatronic engineering degree in 2005, referred to the charity bike ride as his greatest challenge yet.
“We started talking about doing the charity bike ride last year,” he said.
“I saw this first as an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with Dad.
“We now look forward to seeing more of Australia, meeting people and gaining a better understanding of rural and Aboriginal life, as well as raising awareness and funds for Plan.”
Mr Pfeffer and fellow riders begin their adventure with a public send off in Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane on May 4.
They hope to raise $10,000 and aim to complete the 4500km trek in ten weeks while promoting the importance of sustainable community development.
Mr Pfeffer’s love of cycling has inspired the mode of transport for the trip.
“Cycling, to me, just seems like such a sensible way to get around,” he said.
“For energy versus distance covered it is the most efficient mode of transport – it is sustainable, it keeps you fit and, since food is fuel, the more you ride the more you get to eat!
“The fact that we will be raising awareness about health and working towards a more sustainable planet is the icing on the cake.”
Brisbane Friends of Plan founder Alwyn Blayse, a UQ physiotherapy graduate, became involved with Mr Pfeffer’s trip in January this year.
“I was very excited to hear about Jon’s ride. I think it will do a lot to promote the wonderful work Plan does and will motivate people to join in the fight to help end child poverty,” Mr Blayse said.
“A lot of people talk about making a difference but Jon is actually doing something about it. Jon has raised all the money for the trip himself and is taking time off work to do the ride.”
Mr Blayse invited people to sponsor the group for a tax-deductible donation of $2 per kilometre.
For more information on the Brisbane to Broome charity bike ride and how you can donate goods or funds, visit www.brisbanetobroome.org
The Brisbane to Broome Charity Bike Ride send-off will be held from 10am on Sunday, May 4 at Roma Street Parklands Frangipani Court and will feature live music, a sausage sizzle and raffle. RSVP to alwynblayse@hotmail.com
Media: Alwyn Blayse (0410 758 193 or alwynblayse@hotmail.com) or Tegan Taylor at UQ Communications (07 3365 2659 or t.taylor@uq.edu.au)
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