Nineteen cyclists –  out of the 40 who have taken part in the $100,000 fundraising marathon – were greeted by David Southwick, member for Caulfield in the Victorian Legislative Assembly; 1960s cycling Olympian Alan Grindal; AMP Financial Planning’s Thomas Reeh, and a crowd of wellwishers.  

The cyclists are financial planners and friends who had pledged to raise $100,000 to help disadvantaged young Australians through Future2, the foundation of the financial advice profession.

• The AMP Future2 Wheel Classic covered 1210 km in nine days, an average of 134.4 km a day. 
• The cyclists were on their bikes for between 4.5 and 6 hours each day.
• On average, they had to fix  8 flat or punctured tyres on the road every day – 14 of these on the road out of Sydney to Bundanoon on Day 1. 
• They spent an average of 3,251 calories each  day and were sustained by – among other energy foods and drinks – 53 kilos of bananas. 
• They climbed and descended an average of 1.25 km each day, the biggest climb being almost 3 km between Jindabyne and Corryong; the total net climb was 3.8 km.  
• In spite of the climbs, the cyclists averaged a speed of 28.7 km/h.  One recorded speed during the descent of the Snowy Mountains, was 80.7 km/h.

The group set off from Sydney’s Circular Quay at 7.30am on 15 September.  Their route took them to Canberra, over the Snowy Mountains, and through country Victoria stopping at Wangaratta, Shepparton, Bendigo and Castlemaine. This is the third annual Future2 cycling fundraiser. 

Future2 Wheel Classic 2012 - riders arrive in Melbourne

The Wheel Classic also has the generous support of Caltex (fuel vouchers), Vital Massage Therapies (massage), Rural Funds Management (dinner in Canberra) and many others.

The fundraising efforts of the cyclists have raised over $89,000 to date.  The ride also has the generous support of AMP Financial Planning (Gold Partner) and Matrix Planning Solutions (Silver Partner).  Magellan Asset Management and Macquarie sponsored seminars in Canberra and Bendigo, delivered by Peter Bobbin, a Future2 trustee and expert in superannuation, taxation and estate planning. 

The funds will boost Future2’s grant program, giving a second chance and hope for a better future to disadvantaged young Australians like those featured in the short films on the Future2 website, www.future2foundation.org.au/Grants/Grantfilms

Every cyclist participating in the AMP Future2 Wheel Classic has realized a personal goal on two levels: achieving a physical challenge while fulfilling a desire to help those in most need in the community. 

Check out the route at www.future2foundation.org.au/events/wheelclassic

See who is riding and make a donation at www.future2fundraising.org.au/event/f2wheelclassic

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Thirty one of the 40 cyclists who are participating left Circular Quay early on Saturday morning. They were farewelled by AMP Financial Planning’s Michael Guggenheimer and Future2 Chair Steven Helmich.

The puncture tally during the first two days into Canberra was 25, and one cycle had emergency repairs in Liverpool.
This morning Bernie Ripoll MP Parliamentary Secretary to the treasurer gave an official send off to the group from the Royal Canberra Golf Club where Peter Bobbin, one of three Future2 trustees riding, was delivering a seminar to a group of Canberra based advisers and their clients – all part of the fundraising effort.

Keep up with the riders and their daily journey by reading Ray Griffin’s blog – click here.

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The riders are motivated by both personal challenge and genuine desire to give back to their communities. Their goal is to raise $100,000, which will enable Future2 to give more grants to community organisations that are giving hope for a better future to disadvantaged young Australians.

Each cyclist has set up an online fundraising page and is seeking the support of friends, family, colleagues and anyone who wants to recognise their herculean effort and selfless dedication to a great cause.

Donations can be made at www.future2fundraising.org.au/event/f2wheelclassic.

This year the AMP Future2 Wheel Classic has six times the number of cyclists registered and they have already raised more than $25,000. The annual fundraising event has attracted sponsorship from AMP Financial Planning (Gold Partner), Matrix Planning Solutions (Silver Partner).

As well as corporate and individual sponsorship, adviser-client seminars in Canberra and Bendigo will boost fundraising. Future2 trustee and leading financial services lawyer Peter Bobbin will deliver the seminars on wealth creation, preservation and distribution on 17 September in Canberra and 21 September in Bendigo – as well as cycling 1200km!

“The Wheel Classic sets a gold standard for innovative fundraising by a professional community,” said Steve Helmich, Chair of Future2 and AMP Director of Financial Planning, Advice and Services.

“The AMP Future2 Wheel Classic is a journey for the financial planning profession as a whole – not just those cycling in the event. It demonstrates the move towards professionalism for financial planners, reflected also in their long-standing commitment to helping others.

As the ride makes its way from Sydney to Melbourne via Bundanoon, Canberra, Jindabyne, Corryong, Wangaratta, Shepparton, Bendigo and Castlemaine, we will take that message into every community.”

3 August 2012

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