This event to raise money to fight cancer is inspired by our own friends and relatives struck down in the prime of their life by cancer.
You too may also have friends and relatives afflicted with this disease, we urge you to leave a message on our tributes page and make a legacy to honor their memories.

The decision to take on such a mammoth undertaking was one that didn’t come without motivation. I don’t think anybody can say they have never been touched by cancer, either directly or by knowing someone who has battled with it. We are no different.

I dedicate the ride, for my part of it, to the memory of my late Grandfather, Herbert Freyer. It was his influence that inspired me to ride across Australia to raise money for cancer research. Campfires Against Cancer evolved from that notion.

Pa was a horseman all his life, and stock buyer for 51 years before going head to head with cancer. It was a cruel way to go for one of nature’s true gentlemen.

Before handing the pad over to Ian, I would also like to briefly mention The Australian soldiers and women who fought to keep the best country in the world; The Sydney 2000 Olympics and the Olympic team; Cheley Colorado camp, where I worked in 1998; My parents, family and girlfriend; and the fact that I’m a bloody proud Australian as a tribute to my greatest influences.

Now that Dan has explained his motivators, its time to explain why I am undertaking this ride. My best mate, Duane Boswell, left his family and friends in January 1998, after a courageous battle with bowel cancer.

Even though he was only 31, he had left an everlasting impression upon all those that he had met over the years. Always a grinner, Duane's sense of humor never wavered throughout his treatment, and one of the funniest things I can remember him saying was "Well, since I have had my car broken into, my house flooded by a burst pipe in the roof, and been stuck in the middle a bank holdup all in the past three weeks, I reckon the big fella upstairs is DEFINITELY trying to fit everything into what time I've got left!" He was a great mate, gentleman and father, who in partnership with his widow Melissa gave a wonderful legacy to the world in their daughter, Laura. His mother, Lorraine, has an inner strength, which is truly inspirational.

Lorraine has lost two sons (Duane's brother Jamie died of an unrelated cancer, aged 18, ten years prior to Duane), and her husband Allan (in a tragic work accident only 18 months prior to Duane). Her courage and attitude in the face of adversity have provided the motivation for me to undertake the planning and execution of the "Campfires Against Cancer" ride. My thanks go to my parents for their putting up with me for the past 33 years, and to all those that have helped along the way (that list is HUGE, but they know who they are!), and I guess most importantly our supporters and sponsors for this ride.

DREAM - BELIEVE - ACHIEVE - SUCCEED