November 30th, 2021Launch Ballarat Cycle Classic 2022

On Friday 19 November, the annual Ballarat Cycle Classic was launched, and the community challenged to get on board and support cancer research in Ballarat in 2022.
Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute announced that the Ballarat Cycle Classic will go ahead next year as a two-day event on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 February 2022.
Professor George Kannourakis, Institute Director, encouraged the community “join us on the gravel, in the bush and on the road and help raise important funds for cancer research. We are excited to bring the community together and deliver the 15th Ballarat Cycle Classic.”
“This is an important fundraising event for the Institute. The 2021 Ballarat Cycle Classic raised $250,000 for our cancer research program in a year of pandemic uncertainty, imagine what we can do next year! We’re all looking forward to being able to go to events and meet up with family and friends again.” he said
Community members are urged to take up the challenge for cancer research with events on and off the bike for all ages. Event line-up includes distance road rides, mountain bike rides, adventure and fun rides for the family, a family lake walk and for the first time a much-anticipated gravel grind has been added to the offerings to be held on Saturday 19 February 2022.
Gravel grinding is a worldwide trend amongst all disciplines and readily available to all bike enthusiasts as it embraces mixed surfaces. Road ride participants simply swap thin road tires for a thicker, sturdier type allowing them to enjoy an assortment of environments and companionship with less concern for road traffic.
The 2022 Ballarat Cycle Classic will see the third year of the SPUD100 (160km) distance road ride named after long term Ambassador, local boy and AFL legend, Danny Frawley. A fitting way to pay tribute to a man that had been a supporter of this community event since the start.
The 160km SPUD100 mile ride is a true test of grit and determination, and participants are encouraged to challenge themselves.
Ballarat Cycle Classic Ambassador Jessica Douglas, three times World Solo 24hr and three times Australian Solo 24hr Mountain Bike Champion, says “Joining the Ballarat Cycle Classic as an Ambassador again is an opportunity for me to encourage people to support cancer research. I have personal experience with cancer treatment, albeit 30 plus years ago. We need investment in research to find improvements for people. Cancer treatments are changing for the better with facilities such as the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute.” “One of my mantras is You will not always be the BEST, You will not always be Your BEST, however…YOU can always DO YOUR BEST. I encourage everyone to get out and do your best while supporting this worthy cause” she said.
Generous support from our sponsors ensure 100% of registrations and donations go to cancer research.
Ballarat Cycle Classic Events include:
• NEW Gravel Grind – Saturday 19 February
• Distance Road Rides
− Eclipse Ford 160km SPUD 100mile ride
− Protect 100km, 85km, 60km and 50km road rides
• BJT Legal Mountain Bike Challenge
− 30km, 40km and 50km
• Eclipse Ford Fun Rides
− 6km Lake Ride around beautiful Lake Wendouree
− 28km Adventure ride
• PetStock 6km Family Lake Walk
Registrations will open at 10:00am on Friday 19 November 2021 at www.ballaratcycleclassic.com.au
About the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute is a world class cancer research facility based in Ballarat, Victoria. As Australia’s only regionally based cancer research centre, we are non-government, and rely on the generous support of the community to continue research into more effective ways to diagnose and treat cancer. Opened in 1998, the Institute was inspired by Ballarat teenager, Fiona Elsey who lost her fight with cancer in 1991. Today, led by Professor George Kannourakis, the Institute is making a world class contribution to cancer research, with recent recognition for achievements into immunotherapy targets for ovarian cancer and histiocytic disorders.
The research is focused on the role of the immune system and how it relates and can be used to treat cancer. It is hoped that by identifying these proteins on the surface of cancer cells, druggable targets can be developed to allow the immune system to attack the cancer, without chemotherapy and radiation.
The research aims to help patients with a broad range of cancers – from Leukemia, Bowel, Ovarian, Breast, Renal, Lung, Melanoma and Pancreato-Biliary cancers, as well as haematological cancers.
Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute currently has 8 PhD students from Federation University and 13 senior scientific staff.
Recent achievements of FECRI have included:
• Identification of potential new immunotherapy targets for ovarian cancer
• Discovered that immune cells in the walls of the bowel can misbehave and release chemical messengers promoting Bowel cancer
• Identification of a new immune cell subset in histiocytic disorders
• Further immune studies in various cancer and leukaemias
• Identification of a new method for isolating new viruses