8 May 02

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 8 May 02 10.30am

Suits on Saddles help launch Longest Charity Horse Ride in the world

The longest Charity Horse Ride in the world was launched in Melbourne today with a number of prominent business personalities joining Minister Robert Doyle, Shadow Minister for Health in supporting the efforts of the Campfires Against Cancer Team.

Dan Phegan and Ian James, the founders of Campfires Against Cancer, will ride with their Team from Darwin to Corryong in a bid to raise at least $500,000 for the Cancer Council to assist with research into finding a cure.

Dan today invited the business personalities at the event to "spend 10 minutes in the saddle" to get a feel for what it would be like to spend 10 month in the saddle riding through Rural and Regional Australia.

Coinciding with the launch is the announcement of Telstra Country Wide as a major sponsor of the event.

"Telstra Country Wide is proud to support Campfires Against Cancer", said Mr Donald McGauchie , Chairman of Telstra Country Wide today.

"Telstra Country Wide takes its role very seriously, not just as a telecommunications company, but as a partner with regional communities."

As Australia celebrates the Year of the Outback in 2002, Campfires Against Cancer seeks to involve rural communities in the fight against cancer.

The Team will be travelling through major outback centres such as Mount Isa, Longreach and Charleville, reaching Tamworth for the week of the country music festival in January 2003.

The journey then continues through inland NSW and down to Victoria, reaching the final destination of Corryong on April 10, 2003. This coincides with the opening of "The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival". The festival will signal the end of the ride.

The Team will be stopping along the way to "share their campfire" with local communities and there are concerts and performances planned to assist in reaching the final goal of $500,000.

In conjunction with raffles and other fund raising initiatives, the Team will be asking each farm along the route from Goondiwindi to Wodonga if they are able to donate a cow or steer. Once the herd is of a suitable size it will be sold and all proceeds donated to the Cancer Council.

The team extends an invitation to anyone wanting to join them for part of the journey - on horse back, motor bike, four wheel drive - all are welcome. For information please contact Dan Phegan (02) 6023 1000 or visit the website.

Those wanting to make donation can do by going to the donations page for details.Ends

For further information or for photos of the event please contact:
Catriona McGauchie 0428 368 371.