Team Komatsu has played a vital role in a major fundraising accomplishment for the third annual Ride to Conquer Cancer
Held over the 18th and 19th of October, the Perth leg of the nation-wide Ride to Conquer Cancer is a gruelling two-day, 218 kilometre cycling challenge that saw a total of 1,311 riders saddling up and cycling from McCallum Park to Pinjarra and back again.
Through the tireless efforts and generosity of sponsors, supporters, volunteers and participants $5.2 million was raised. The proceeds will benefit the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, supporting cancer research initiatives, clinical trials and new treatments.
Riders pumped their fists and held hands as they came home to crowds that turned out, applauding participants as they crossed the finish line.
Komatsu fielded a team of 16, joining 294 staff from event sponsor MACA Mining Limited as part of Team MACA.
Team MACA set out with ambition and a goal of recruiting 300 riders to best the team's contribution of $1.2 million in 2013.
On the 18th, 310 Team MACA riders climbed into the saddle, having contributed a whopping $1.4 million for 2014, making the team the top fundraisers for the event.
Komatsu Major Accounts Business Development Manager Grant Menhennett topped the Team MACA and the Perth events fundraising leader board, raising over $39,000 for his own efforts and personally contributing over $15,000 to members of other teams.
"This is our third year of doing the ride. I am really proud to work for Komatsu, who are actively encouraging staff and customers to get behind this great cause."
"Cancer touches so many people; everybody knows someone who has been affected by it. I am happy to put my time and money into this because it benefits everyone.
"This whole experience is all positive; it encourages people to get healthy and fit and challenges them to find out how much good they can do when they put their hearts into it." Grant said.
The work of The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research continues to improve the prognosis for cancer patients. Survival rates for cancer sufferers are significantly higher because of medical research.
Perkins Director, Professor Peter Leedman emphatically thanked ride participants.
"We extend our gratitude to the riders, volunteers, crew members, donors and sponsors who are supporting ground-breaking cancer research"
"Funds raised through The Ride ensure sustainability for our research, along with supporting new cancer research projects, purchasing new equipment and supporting our cancer research teams.
"With community support, the Perkins will continue to accelerate the delivery of the latest breakthroughs to Western Australians and this will result in improved health," Professor Leedman said.
The Perkins is WA's leading adult medical research institute; recruiting and building research teams to work together with cutting edge technologies and translating new knowledge into treatments and cures.
As the beneficiary of the ride, The Perkins is dedicated to a vision of Western Australia as a world leader in medical knowledge and research.
You can learn more about getting involved with the Ride To Conquer Cancer in 2015, Team MACA and The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research by visiting the websites listed below.
www.conquercancer.org.au
www.maca.net.au
www.perkins.org.au
Komatsu staff who took on the two-day, 200km ride were:
o Jaime Murdoch
o Troy Brown
o Anthony Croft
o Assha Corry
o Teddy Santos
o Vijay Santos
o Ferdinand Manding
o Brian Race
o Richard Edmiston
o Grant Menhennett