All along his cycle and fishing trip from Khancoban to Mulwala, Craig Gardam has been reminded of his brother and the places they visited.
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Mr Gardam's 'Hooked on Life Ride' comes with his message for men, to take better care of themselves.
"I lost my brother two years ago to a heart attack in his sleep at 43," he said.
"He wasn't pushing himself enough to do his health checks, and this year we buried my cousin at the same age from brain cancer.
"That is the basis to the ride."
The Milawa disability support officer brought four mates together for the 300 kilometre ride.
Their initial stint is all about talking to country men, but Mr Gardam hoped to expand it.
"It's a mateship ride and then next year we'll probably open it to the public," he said.
"My brother and I fished pretty much from Kanchoban down, and I chose the route because of that and also the big farming population.
"You do see blokes in the country bury themselves into the farm.
"The further we can go afield, to Swan Hill or Mildura, it's an even bigger farming population.
"It's a big push to get more awareness out."
Albury's Ross Madin said Thursday's 48 kilometres from Wymah to Albury was one of the hardest stints - no mean feat for a bloke who doesn't regularly cycle.
"There was plenty of hills and undulation, and a nice little head wind just to finish us off at the end," he said.
"But it's been good fun.
"For men, it's 'She'll be right', there's always six billion things that are more important, and at the end of the day you look at that spot on your leg and go 'I have to get round to that'.
"There's this stigma around showing weakness that I guess a lot of us feel."
Mr Madin said he had seen the impact of that stigma too often in his life.
"We've had good friends perish, both through natural causes and psychological causes," he said.
"Sometimes there's nothing you can do, but sometimes there is prevention, even if it is a simple as a skin check.
"If this reminds one person to go and do something that's been on their minds, it could save a life."
IN OTHER NEWS:
After their stop in Albury on Thursday, which coincided with the second anniversary of Paul Gardam's death, the group spent last night at Grathem's Bend in Corowa.
"It's been great so far," Mr Gardam said.
"Most people have given us really positive responses."
The Hooked on Life ride will finish at Intents Fishing and Outdoors in Mulwala at midday on Friday, November 1 - find the ride on Facebook.
