AN EPIC motorcycle ride across Australia will stop at nothing to raise money to train Guide Dog puppies.
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Kiewa couples Brian “Beetle” and Trish Bayley and Noel and Judy Hawkins have remained on track to cover 9000 kilometres in 28 days despite one bike catching on fire and a smash and grab on their van.
Their fundraising drive PAMS (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney) Motorcycle Across Australia 2017 left Perth on Boxing Day.
They want to raise at least $35,000 for Guide Dogs Victoria, the amount it takes to train one Guide Dog puppy over two years.
PAMS project manager Judy Hawkins said a computer and other items were stolen from their support van on only the second night of their journey.
“The event made the local news!” she said.
“But Kalgoorlie really got behind us and people from the town have been donating to Guide Dogs Victoria online since.”
The couples spent the past 18 months planning the journey, which was inspired by 22-year-old Winifred Wells’ solo trip from Perth to Sydney and return in 1950-51.
Like Wells, “Beetle” Bayley is riding a Royal Enfield Bullet 350cc motorcycle.
Mrs Hawkins said communities along the way had supported them.
She said dozens of motorcyclists had also joined them along the route to ride part of the way with them.
“About 20 riders joined us today,” she said from Strathalbyn, South Australia.
“We also met Sally-Anne Fowles, who wrote Fast Women: Pioneering Women Motorcyclists.
“Riders are following us on Facebook or the website; some of the riders who joined us we met for the first time today.”
Mrs Hawkins said they had funded their entire trip out of their own pockets with every fundraising dollar going to Guide Dogs Victoria.
She said they had a successful fundraising event at Coorabie Farm, Western Australia.
“We spent New Year’s in Streaky Bay (South Australia) watching the amazing fireworks display and receiving funds, we are now over $28,000,” she said.
PAMS Motorcycle Across Australia 2017 will arrive on the Border this weekend.
It will hold a fundraising event at the Blazing Stump Hotel in Wodonga on Saturday.
The fundraiser raffle starts at 5.30pm, with tickets drawn by 8pm.
Prizes include scores of vouchers for pamper packages, dinners, food and wine.
Bookings are essential for dinner on (02) 6024 2041.
To donate visit pamsmcride.com.au.
The riders will leave the Blazing Stump Hotel at 9am Sunday.
