Riders ready to conquer race using hand cycles

A 50 kilometre cycle is a physical challenge for people who have the benefit of using the power in their legs. So, for a group of 10 Brisbane men who all have a spinal cord injury, hand cycling the MS Brissie to the Bay route will be an even greater achievement.

The Spinal Injuries Association team is looking forward to the challenging terrain of the event, which begins and finishes at South Brisbane’s Musgrave Park on Sunday, 19 July.

Left to right: Spinal Injuries Association Peer Support Officer Peter Harre, MS Queensland Director of Marketing Pat Scammell, George Kambouris and Cameron Elmore.

On Thursday, 18 June team captain Peter Harre, from Logan, and several other team members practiced for the taxing ride at the Murarrie Sports Centre cycling track.

Peter said this year’s event would have the most hand cycling participants in the ride’s 17-year history.

“The sport is steadily growing in popularity, but rarely is there an opportunity for a big group to get together and ride,” he said.

“We all have a spinal cord injury, but we also enjoy keeping fit and getting out in the fresh air – a physical disability doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying physical pursuits.”

Group member George Kambouris, of Carindale, agreed and said he trained on average four times a week and reached distances of 55 kilometres per ride.

“It’s a really physical sport and you have to have good upper-body strength, but the exhilaration of conquering big hills and difficult courses makes it a fun, challenging hobby to have,” George said.

Left to right: Spinal Injuries Association Peer Support Officer Peter Harre, George Kambouris and Cameron Elmore.

MS Queensland’s new Director of Marketing and two time Olympic and Commonwealth Games track athlete Pat Scammell said he was excited to have this unique team participating in the Byrne Ford Brissie to the Bay Bike Ride.

“The event is about bringing the community together to raise support for people living with MS. It is inspiring to see that despite the adversity that has occurred in these men’s lives they are still willing to give back to others that are in need. This is an outstanding effort,” he said.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley, who will also be taking part in the ride on the day with other staff from the organisation, said the hand cyclists’ involvement in the ride would also raise awareness of people with a physical disability in the community.

“Since 1960 our Association has been dedicated to assisting and empowering our members to live independently,” Mr Henley said.

“The MS Brissie to the Bay is a perfect example of a group of our members refusing to let their injury get in the way of their involvement in events that are open to the entire community.”