By Sally McLean
THE Redlands Cycling & Multisport Club (RCMC) has once again gone the distance for a good cause, raising more than $44,000 and cycling a combined 44,784km in this year’s Great Cycle Challenge to help fight childhood cancer.
Now in its fifth year participating as a team, RCMC dedicated the annual event to the memory of much-loved clubmates Darren Timms and John Smallwood, and all those affected by cancer.
“The Great Cycle Challenge is our chosen annual club event in memory of our great departed friends and clubmates,” RCMC Team Challenge Leader Case Scholtes said.
“In their memory, we raise funds each October to support the Children’s Medical Research Institute and their work to prevent, diagnose, and treat childhood cancer.”
Out of respect for John Smallwood, who helped pioneer the club’s involvement in the challenge, the team continues to set ambitious goals.
This year, their ride target was 40,075km – equivalent to cycling around the world at the equator – and they passed it by nearly 5000km.
The 2025 team of 50 riders, aged between 23 and 80, logged their kilometres across the Redlands’ picturesque bayside, as well as at competitions and social rides around Australia and overseas.
RCMC also celebrated success of the challenge circuit, with eight members competing at the 2025 World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, bringing home three gold and three silver medals, while another three riders represented the club at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.
In the national Great Cycle Challenge rankings, the club finished third in Australia for funds raised and first for total kilometres cycled.
Across five years, RCMC has raised $127,483 and ridden a total of 196,272km in support of children’s cancer research.
Founded in 1950, RCMC has a proud history of producing world, national, and state champions, but continues to advocate for a safe, off-road cycling facility in the Redlands – something it has been seeking from Redland City Council since the 1990s.
“Our local roads are unsuitable for racing and unsafe for youngsters to train, which means the club currently has no junior members,” Mr Scholtes said.
The club said it was encouraged by recent positive reports from the Children’s Medical Research Institute.
“Join us as we continue to ride, raise awareness, and pray that families and children suffering from this terrible disease will soon see a cure,” Mr Scholtes said.
