Thinking about doing the annual drive around the Christmas lights this year to get into the festive spirit? We have a better idea — join the Christmas Lights Ride. Not only will you have the chance to get active with the family (always good to set an example!); but it will also be about 100 times more fun with Christmas carols-on-the-roll, HOT FM Townsville playing tunes, prizes galore and the chance to dress-up and spread some cheer. But the best thing is that it’s all for a great cause — raising funds for children’s charity Ronald McDonald House North Queensland (RMHNQ) — and that’s got to secure you firmly on the ‘nice’ list!
We caught up with RMHNQ’s Brad Hastewell to find out more about this December 8 event.
“Imagine more than 400 riders with bright lights and tinsel on their bikes cycling through your neighbourhood singing carols and generally promoting the Christmas spirit!”
What’s the purpose of the ride? There are a number of reasons we wanted to create this fun Christmas event. Ronald McDonald House North Queensland is a children’s charity and we are all about having fun, so we wanted to make having fun matter. The charity is all about being healthy and, as part of that, we wanted to combine seeing the amazing Townsville Christmas lights with riding a bike and getting active. To have families getting out and enjoying the festive season really is driving home the RMHNQ message that families are ‘Stronger Together’ — we focus on keeping the family together which, in turn, directly affects the child recovering from a serious illness.
Ronald McDonald House NQ is currently fundraising towards the opening of a family room at the Townsville Hospital, which will be haven within the clinical environment of the hospital and provide a place to rest and recover while staying by your child’s side. This is RMHNQ’s opportunity to say thank you for all the support we have received over the years from the Townsville community.
What are you most excited about the event? The whole concept of bringing the Christmas decorations to the community — imagine more than 400 riders with bright lights and tinsel on their bikes cycling through your neighbourhood singing carols and generally promoting the Christmas spirit!
This will be a truly special night in the Townsville Christmas calendar and I can’t imagine anything more fun for the family. It’s extremely family friendly and will engage with the children as well as the local community. There are so many things happening at the event, including:
- The Christmas bike ride!
- HOT FM Townsville will provide the soundtrack along the route
- The Riverview Tavern will provide the Christmas band and put on some $15 meal deals
- Cycle de Vie will be there and have bikes as prizes
- Information will be available regarding the various cycle clubs around Townsville, including Townsville Rockwheelers Mountain Bike Club and Townsville Cycle Club
- Your very own registration plate for your bike
Can you tell us about the prizes? As part of the fundraising side of the event, two amazing bikes (one for kids and another for an adult) have been donated by Cycle de Vie and they’ll be awarded to the highest fundraisers. Imagine the look on your child’s face when they open up their Christmas present to find out that it’s a new bike! To start your fundraising, you can easily create a page here and ask family and friends to support the fantastic cause of Ronald McDonald House NQ.
KIDS: Trek Precaliber 20 SS (RRP $319)
ADULTS: Electra Cruiser 1 (RRP $399)
What’s the schedule for the festivities? The evening starts from 5pm with everyone getting organised, and the ride rolls off at 6pm. We will be doing a loop of Riverside Gardens, starting and finishing at the Riverview Tavern. Safety is paramount, so we have engaged the Queensland Police who will be leading the packs of riders around the route, plus a number of first aiders en route.
Do you need to be fit to participate? This is for the whole family to get involved with and will be at a nice social pace. We are encouraging people to dress up and they’ll be prizes for the best dressed.
Get involved
The Christmas Lights Ride 2015 is on Tuesday, December 8 and aims to spread the Christmas cheer. Find out more and sign-up for this family-friendly event here: https://thegotownsville.com.au/event/christmas-lights-ride-2015/.
You can go one step further and really embody the Christmas spirit and fundraise for Ronald McDonald House North Queensland to help the families of sick children. Just create an Everyday Hero Go Fundraise page here: https://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/christmaslightsride-2015. The highest fundraiser will go into the draw to win an adults’ or kids’ bike from Cycle de Vie.
Let’s Glow!!
TheGo Townsville is a proud sponsor of the Christmas Lights Ride 2015.
