Kia Supports Rotary Ride for Research

SYDNEY – April 23, 2013: Kia Motors Australia has provided logistics support to one of Victoria’s longest running charity bike rides, which has raised over $875,000 for the Australian Rotary Health (ARH) research fund.

Rotary Ride for Research is an annual bike ride, which over the past 26 years, has covered more than 25,500km and raised vital funds for ARH programs.

In 2013 around 28 cyclists teamed up to ride the 790kms over six days from Wangaratta to Boronia in Melbourne, via Myrtleford, Mount Beauty, Harrietville, Bairnsdale, Traralgon and Warrigal.

Kia Motors Australia supplied four vehicles to the event, which provided vital support and protection to the riders as they negotiated the 130km daily average route.

Two Kia Sorentos and two Carnivals assisted the four teams of riders and support crew by carrying food, supplies and spares as well as the odd rider or two when the going got really tough.

This is the fourth year in a row Kia has assisted the ride with support vehicles.

“The vehicles performed their role to perfection,” said Rotary Ride for Research convenor, Rob Henry.

“100 per cent of funds from the ride are returned to the Rotary Club, so when large organisations like Kia offer cost saving support, it significantly helps the profitability of our event.

“The cars also looked the part, with bright and colourful livery making it obvious that they were associated with the ride. They certainly turned heads when we drove into town at the end of each day and are a good enticer for our support crew to return each year.

“The supply of two top of the range Grand Carnival people movers also allowed us to do just that, move large numbers of people within and throughout the event,” Mr Henry said.

Boronia Rotary Club has contributed over $2.7 million to ARH since the fund’s inception in 1985.

The 2013 Rotary Ride for Research added another $30,000 to that total, which will be used to fund research into mental illness which has been the main focus of the program since 2000.