Steven Walter Foundation - Snowy Ride 2009

This is the first moment I have found to write about a great cause (Steven Walter Foundation - Children's Cancer Charity) and a fantastic ride (The Snowy Ride) since arriving home last Monday after 5 days hard riding.

First a bit about Steven Walter and The Snowy Ride.

The Snowy Ride is a motorcycle event run annually in the Alpine Region of NSW with the aim of involving motorcycle riders from all over Australia to raise money for Childhood Cancer Research. It is also an opportunity for riders to enjoy a weekend away with their friends and family and to ride some of Australia’s best and most picturesque roads.

The first Snowy Ride was launched in 2001 as a request from Steven Walter, a young man who lost his fight against cancer. Steven Walter was only nineteen years of age when he died after a heroic eight-year fight against cancer. Steve's whole life revolved around motorcycles, both racing and pleasure. He was a former NSW Junior Enduro Champion and an Australian Four Day Silver medalist. He rode for the ADB Junior Enduro Team. His passion spread to the road where he rode a CBR 600. His last big ride was to tour Tasmania with a group of his friends and family. One of Steve's final requests was that a motorcycle event be run to raise money for the Children's Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA) and help find a cure for childhood cancer "So that one day no other kid will have to go through what I’ve been through”.

As previous years a group of my mates and work acquaintances, 10 in all planned to do Snowy Ride again this year, it had been a blast previous years and we were keen to keep up the tradition as well as help the kids. Unfortunately FilthyPhil had to drop out due to scheduled major back surgery then Gavin dropped his bike on the Reefton a couple of weeks ago and had to cancel as his bike was written off. So we were 2 short, visiting the FluxRiders site I saw that Bugger had failed to raise some interest within the group for the Snowy ride, so a quick pm and Bugger was on board, we were back to 9 with another joining us at Thredbo.

Participants

Nigel alias Smegin                             Triumph

Roger alias Woger Wabbit                 Honda

Ross alias Shotski                               Honda

Kim                                                         Honda

Graeme                                                 BMW

Tony alias Rottweiler                          Buell

Stephen alias Dicko                            Ducati

Ken alias Smithy                                 BMW

Joe alias Bugger                                 Triumph

There in mind

Phil alias Filthy                                     Recovering from major back surgery

Gavin                                                     Recovery from a major ego dent (dropped bike)

The weather forecast was good for the weekend and the planned route was going take us long some of the best if not the best roads in Victoria and NSW.

The ride ->