A student will cycle 160 kilometres to help make the hospital experience a little easier for Border and North East children.
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Wodonga's Luke Runciman, 18, will ride from Wodonga hospital to Wangaratta hospital and back on Monday, August 3, through Wooragee, Beechworth, Everton Upper and Tarrawingee.
A year 12 student and captain of Wodonga Senior Secondary College, Luke is raising money for Albury Wodonga Health's paediatrics unit.
Luke said he had wanted to do something significant for his community this year and decided to combine his interests in cycling and health.
"I've been training pretty strenuously, I've been getting up at 4.30 each morning and trying to do 50, 60kms before school as frequently as I can," he said.
"It's going to be a very challenging day but very much looking forward to it."
The funds will go towards a Smileyscope virtual reality system, which costs about $5500 in total.
AWH nurse unit manager paediatrics Samantha Peet explained children could wear the goggles to, for example, feel like they're underwater and a fish was nibbling at their hand as a tube was put in.
"It actually is an amazing tool that you can use as a distraction therapy while you're doing different procedures with the kids or if they're anxious about going to theatre," she said.
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The 16-bed unit treats medical, surgical and mental health patients aged from 0 to 16 years.
Ms Peet said they had acquired a basic virtual reality system about six years ago but Smileyscope had been developed specifically for hospitals and would allow wider usage.
She praised Luke for his vision and perseverance, wishing him well for Monday's ride.
"It's been a lot of his own time that he's been putting into it, talking to sponsors and that sort of thing," she said.
"I think he needs a pat on the back, it's fantastic to see.
"If anyone can make any small donation, it makes a big difference."
Luke had intended to complete his ride in May, but the coronavirus restrictions delayed that schedule.
"People are very supportive, I've got great family, great friends and certainly sponsors that dug so deep," he said.
"I think people really value regional health."
Donations can be made via his GoFundMe page, Ride4Kids Albury-Wodonga, as the event draws closer.
"I just thought Monday was the way to do it, start of the week, nice and fresh," Luke said.
"Obviously physical distancing can be quite easily practised cycling with an escort vehicle."