Living the dream for Smiddy
Palmwoods Hotel hosted more than 40 cyclists and support crew from the 'Smiling for Smiddy' organisation on the annual ride from Brisbane to Noosa. Australian cycling legend Phil Anderson was the first Aussie to ever wear a yellow jersey in the Tour De France and he joined the ride this year. Sunshine Valley Gazette Editor Kerry Brown caught up with the riders for lunch and discovered far more than spin and lycra.
When the teacher becomes a student
By Kerry BrownAdam Smiddy was only aged 26 when he died from an aggressive Melanoma in 2006. Adam was a Physiotherapist and triathlete, his triathlon coach Mark Smoothy aka Sharky established 'Smiling for Smiddy' in Adam's honour soon after he died; since then more than $5 million has been raised for Mater cancer research and support. Not long before Adam was diagnosed with Melanoma he asked Sharky if there was any chance he wanted to ride to Townsville with him to visit his family. To Adam it was as easy as popping a credit card in their back pocket and heading north, but for Sharky it was a long long way and he brushed the idea aside many times...they never lived Adam's dream.There was only one way to honour Adam, and after 28 years competing in triathlons and training triathletes; Sharky realised he had been in training for a lifetime. He put a credit card in his back pocket and rode from Brisbane to Townsville with accompanied by Adam's spirit for the entire gruelling 1600 kilometres. A year later Sharky rode to Townsville again, this time with 22 fellow riders and he founded the 'Smiling for Smiddy' organisation. Every year there are more and more riders joining the 'Bottlemart Smiddy Challenge' from Brisbane to Townsville as well as other cycling and triathlon events honouring Adam.Forty riders stopped in at Palmwoods Hotel for lunch on their way to Noosa. After checking everyone was okay and taking a few snaps for his blog Sharky told the Gazette they were on the Coast for four days, "We ride 160kms every day and do various treks so we get to see the best of the Sunshine Coast," Sharky said."The best part of being in such a big group is the comradeship. You always see riders helping each other a hand on someone's back to get them up the last hill can make a big difference so it really matters." Sharkey described Adam as a very quiet bloke, so what would he think of the Smiling for Smiddy organisation? "He would be embarrassed but he would be very proud at the same time," Sharky reflects.The support crew included sponsors who have no interest in cycling but told the Gazette the cyclists were an inspiring group who look after each other like no other group he had seen. Everyone involved in the 'Smiling for Smiddy' event would like to thank the Sunshine Coast community and motorists for supporting the event. For more information on Smiling for Smiddy visit www.smiddy.org.au.