Some of the 2013 Future2 Wheel Classic cyclists.

The 2014 Future2 Wheel Classic – the annual long-distance cycling event that is now an established part of the foundation’s fundraising calendar – will follow a new route from Melbourne to Adelaide between 13-19 November.

The cyclists will ride into Adelaide to a reception on the eve of the Financial Planning Association’s Professionals Congress.

Expressions of interest are being made by financial planners from around Australia, keen to test their mettle on the 900-plus km ride over seven days. Online registrations will open in March for both the Future2 Wheel Classic and the Virtual Wheel Classic, which allows cyclists who can’t ride in November to ‘shadow’ the event while on training rides or in the gym.

The money raised will bring new opportunity and hope to disadvantaged young Australians through Future2’s Make the Difference! Grants. The grants are made to community not-for-profits following applications that have the support of a local member of the Financial Planning Association. The Wheel Classic events have raised a total of over $420,000 since its inception in 2010.

Future2 trustee and creator of the Wheel Classic Ray Griffin welcomed a shorter and less arduous route for this year’s ride, hoping it will encourage even more participation among financial planners. “The routes we followed in the first four years (Bourke to Sydney in 2010 and 2011, Sydney to Melbourne in 2012 and Melbourne to Sydney in 2013) involved 1250 km of cycling for nine days over challenging terrain. This year, we’ll ride around 1,000 km in a southerly sweep through Victoria and South Australia, with modest elevations. It’s still a challenge but one that we believe will have wide appeal.”

Matthew Rowe, Financial Planning Association (FPA) Chair and Future2 trustee, welcomed the prospect of the cyclists’ arrival in Adelaide on the eve of the FPA Professionals Congress. “The Wheel Classic is all about financial planning professionals giving back to the community through their participation in the ride, just as they do every day through the quality financial advice they provide to clients. These dedicated financial planners are doing something they love while also helping to make better lives for young people who are in need and at risk. That’s a great result all round and the FPA commends our members who have committed to join in.”

“At Congress, hundreds of financial planning professionals will laud the achievement of the Wheel Classic riders and hear the stories of some of the young people whose lives have been changed with a little help from Future2”, he said.

Early expressions of interest in the Wheel Classic and Virtual Wheel Classic can be made by email to: info@future2foundation.org.au. The day by day route will be announced in early March.

Click here to view highlights of the 2013 Future2 Wheel Classic.

The FPA Professionals Congress 2014 will take place in Adelaide on 20-21 November.

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Twenty Future2 Wheel Classic cyclists.

Twenty financial advisers and friends were elated as they rolled into the Sydney CBD last weekend at the end of a nine-day, 1250 km cycle ride from Melbourne to Sydney.

“They had completed the ride of a lifetime, smashing personal goals and physical challenges, with the added satisfaction of knowing they had raised tens of thousands of dollars to help disadvantaged young Australians”, said Steve Helmich, Future2 Chair.

The Future2 Wheel Classic is generously supported by AMP Financial Planning (Gold Partner) and Matrix Planning Solutions (Silver Partner).  This was the fourth annual fundraising cycle ride organised by Future2, the foundation of the Financial Planning Association.

AMP Financial Planning (AMPFP) opened up the Settlement Café at Circular Quay to welcome the cyclists; Managing Director AMPFP Michael Guggenheimer was there to greet them, along with family and friends of the riders.

City of Sydney Councillor Jenny Green, herself a keen recreational cyclist, welcomed the group and acknowledged how tough riding long distances can be.  “I hope you had a lot of fun taking part in this Wheel Classic ride and salute your generosity and that of the support partners in raising the funds that will help disadvantaged young Australians.  Strong communities are built and supported only when we accept that not everything can be left to the government and that we all have a part to play.”

On the journey from Melbourne, the cyclists climbed a total elevation of over 10,500 m, the equivalent of 1.2 Mount Everests, crossing the Snowy Mountains via Cabramurra and Cooma.

They burnt an average 3,500 calories a day (double the normal level), and while riding ate 60 kilos of bananas, 360 muesli bars and uncounted numbers of protein gels to keep energy levels high.  There were three days of punishing head- and cross-winds, gusting to 60mph with high temperatures that made one cyclist comment it was “like riding into a hairdryer”.

Over $80,000 has been raised from corporate support and the individual fundraising of cyclists.  As the ride made it’s way through country Victoria and NSW, it attracted the goodwill of many people, including spontaneous donations from shopkeepers and truck drivers.

To donate to the Wheel Classic or any of the individual riders visit: www.future2fundraising.org.au/event/f2wheelclassic2013

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AMP Financial Planning’s Darren Black at the start line of the Future2 Wheel Classic.

After months of training and weeks of fundraising, financial planners finally got on the road early Saturday with the Future2 Wheel Classic, the epic annual cycle ride organised by Future2, the Foundation of the Financial Planning Association.

Setting out from Old Treasury Building in Melbourne, most of the cyclists were looking forward to nine days and anything between 45 and 65 hours in the saddle, depending on their level of fitness.  They will climb over 10,500 m – the equivalent of 1.2 Mount Everests.   If the 2012 Wheel Classic sets expectations, they will encounter 40+ kph headwinds, snow, hail and lightening.  They could expect over 70 flat tyres to fix and burn around 3,500 calories a day, double the average daily intake!    All in the name of helping disadvantaged young Australians towards a brighter future.

The annual fundraising event is sponsored AMP Financial Planning (Gold Partner) for a third year. Matrix Planning Solutions is Silver Partner for the fourth year running.

AMP’s head of advice in Melbourne, Darren Black joined Victorian State Member of Parliament David Southwick MP to farewell the riders, a number of whom are AMP employees and planners.

Thirty cyclists will participate in some stage of the Melbourne to Sydney route.  All are actively seeking the support of friends, family, colleagues to help Future2 towards an ambitious $170,000 fundraising target.  Donations can be made in support of individual riders at www.future2fundraising.org.au/event/f2wheelclassic2013

When fundraising closes on 31 October, the individual and the team with the highest fundraising total will be awarded a trophy.

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Future2’s annual cycling fundraising event starts soon.

Future2’s annual cycling fundraising event takes to the road next month on a 1250 k route from Melbourne to Sydney.  When the Future2 Wheel Classic arrives in Sydney on 13 October, 5,000 km will have been covered in four Wheel Classics, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to help disadvantaged young Australians towards brighter futures.

The annual fundraising event has attracted sponsorship from AMP Financial Planning (Gold Partner) for a third year, with a number of its planners and staff taking part this year.  Matrix Planning Solutions is Silver Partner for the fourth year running.

Thirty one keen cyclists have signed up for what promises to be one of life’s unforgettable experiences – a challenge of mental and physical stamina that will bring the satisfaction of knowing they are helping some of the most at-risk and in-need kids in Australia.

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/f2wheelclassic2013 .

Of the 31 cyclists:

• 13 have participated in earlier Wheel Classic events
• 3 – Peter Bobbin, Ray Griffin and Roger Simionato – have ridden in all four events
• 9 are riding the whole Melbourne to Sydney route
• 5 teams are participating: AMP Sparks, Bravien Financial, Hillross Bendigo, Les Trois Originals and Milestone Financial

“The Wheel Classic sets a gold standard for innovative fundraising by a professional community,” said AMP Financial Planning Managing Director Michael Guggenheimer.

“The 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 Melbourne to Sydney via Bendigo, Shepparton, Wodonga, Khancoban, Jindabyne, Canberra, Bowral and Wollongong, we will take that message into every community.”

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When the 2013 Future2 Wheel Classic hits the Melbourne to Sydney road on 5 October, dozens of ‘virtual’ cyclists from the financial planning community may have covered the distance already –  cycling the 1250km in 10 weeks rather than 9 days.

Future2, the foundation of the Australian financial planning profession, today launched the inaugural Future2 Virtual Wheel Classic, calling on cyclists to sign up to help raise money for disadvantaged young Australians.  The Virtual Wheel Classic shadows the ‘real thing’, allowing cyclists to cover the distance in the gym or on the road.

Registrations can be made online from today for a fee of $100, which includes the cost of a Wheel Classic branded cycling jersey.  Cyclists may opt to ride any number of days and must cover the distance between 1 August and 13 October (the final day of the actual Wheel Classic), logging their progress using Strava software.

Each Virtual Wheel Classic rider will be invited to set up a fundraising page and to raise at least $300 – helping Future2 reach a $170,000 fundraising target set for this year’s event.  If they raise over $500 their registration fee will be refunded – or can be returned to Future2 as a tax-deductible donation.

Ray Griffin, a founding trustee of Future2 who, with fellow trustee Peter Bobbin, was the inspiration for the event and rode in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Future2 Wheel Classics, thanked Helen McCarthy of Think SMSF for the idea of the virtual ride.

“Helen is one the cyclists out there who really want to be involved and raise some money for Future2 but can’t join us in October”, Ray said.

“She has already signed in as our first Virtual Wheel Classic rider and we hope her passion for cycling and desire to raise money for Future2 and disadvantaged young Australians leads the way for lots more to do the same,” he added.

Future2 Chair Steve Helmich said, “The cyclists who commit their time and energies to training and participating in the Future2 Wheel Classic – and the Virtual Wheel Classic – are not only making an important philanthropic contribution, they are fostering widespread respect and trust in the financial advice profession.  We salute their efforts, and the individuals and businesses that have the vision to support them with donations and sponsorship.”

The 2013 Wheel Classic has attracted the support of AMP Financial Planning as Gold Partner and Matrix Planning Solutions as Silver Partner.  In addition, it has the support of:

• Ride with Velosophy – Cycle Coaching partner, who offer free coaching for all registered cyclists
• Tom Kerr Auto Centre, West Ryde – Support Team partner, contributing two escort vehicles
• Shepparton Tri Club – Support Team partner, contributing a purpose-built cycle trailer
• Victoria Wealth Management – Support Team partner, contributing a 4WD and Hari Maragos’s invaluable time
• Aspen Parks – Accommodation partner, contributing a night at the Boathaven Holiday Park in Wodonga.

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