Herald 20221011

Cycling towards a Cure for Kenny
4 - HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - OCTOBER 11, 2022
Before stepping off on the ‘Round for Life
2022’ fundraising bike ride traversing three states
and the ACT, Warrant Officer Class One Chris
Pleszkun didn’t regard himself as a cyclist.
Eighteen days, two minor crashes and approximately
2300 kilometres later, the Electronic Warfare
Manager and Round for Life 2022 organiser
still doesn’t think of himself as a cyclist.
But he’s super proud of what the 14 cyclists and
six support crew members were able to achieve as
they rode to raise funds for brain cancer research.
After leaving Toowoomba on September 3,
the 14 cyclists from 7th Signal Regiment and the
Defence Force School of Signals Electronic Warfare
Wing at Borneo Barracks headed south and
peddled approximately 100 kilometres each day,
stopping overnight at regional communities along
the route.
“We visited so many great communities along
the way and met a lot of people, including people
who had been impacted by brain cancer,” WO1
Pleszkun said.
“People would hear about what we were doing
and come up to us to tell us their personal experiences
with brain cancer.
“It really bought home how many people have
been affected by brain cancer and it made the trip
all the more worthwhile.”
Fundraising along the way, the cyclists raised
almost $60,000 for the Cure for Brain Cancer
Foundation before arriving at their final destination
at Simpson Barracks in Victoria on September
22 to a crowd of family, friends and supporters.
Leading the peloton in to the barracks was the
cyclist who inspired ‘Round for Life 2022’, Warrant
Officer Class Two Ken (Kenny) Leggett.
“I was so overwhelmed at seeing the boys and
thinking about how they rode all that way to Melbourne,”
WO2 Leggett said.
“It felt good that I could join them near the end
and lead the peloton to the finish. I would have
done that ride no matter what. No matter how I
felt I would have made that happen.”
In 2010, after WO2 Leggett had recovered from
his first bout of cancer, he organised ‘Round for
Life 2010’ with fellow Electronic Warfare Manager
WO2 Andrew Gillies and the pair rode with a
team of cyclists from Borneo Barracks to Canberra
to raise funds for cancer treatment.
In 2019, WO2 Leggett was diagnosed with a
second bout of cancer, this time in his brain, and
in early 2022, Electronic Warfare Managers WO1
Pleszkun and WO2 Gillies decided to organise
‘Round for Life 2022’ to fundraise for brain cancer
research in honour of their mate.
“The first few days of the trip was pretty hard
on everyone as we realised how far we had to ride,
but morale got higher as we got closer to Kenny in
Melbourne,” WO1 Pleszkun said.
“It was great having him join us for the last few
kilometres of the trip and for everyone to be able
to get together with him at the end.
“Other than three of the riders and one of the
support crew, Kenny hadn’t met the team so we
all gathered at the Simpson Barracks Sergeant’s
Mess afterward to share stories.”
Despite falling short of their ambitious $100k
fundraising goal, WO1 Pleszkun says the team’s
$60,000 tally was from donations made in the
lead-up to and during the 18-day trip.
Their fundraising efforts haven’t gone unnoticed
by WO2 Leggett.
“It’s amazing that all the guys and girls were
able to raise so much money to help brain cancer
research,” he said.
“I don’t know all of the people who donated but
I want to thank everyone who supported the ride.
Santa to drop in on market and party day
The annual Haden Market Day and Block
Party will be held on Saturday, November 12
between 8am and 1pm.
In keeping with the festive theme, a Christmas
decorated biscuit competition will be held
in three age groups, one to five years, six to eight
years and nine to 12 years. Santa will be paying
a visit on the day.
Entertainment will be by the Crows Nest Boot
Scooters and Step Up.
There will be an all-day barbecue and stalls
selling drinks, fresh fruit and vegetables, arts
and craft, plants and nick nacks ideal for Christmas
giving. Stall sites are from $15.
Proceeds from a multi-draw raffle will go to
It’s A Bloke Thing Prostrate Cancer Roadshow.
• For more information or stall bookings,
phone Loretta 0427 382 578 or Donna 4698
8291.
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Co-ordinators of the Round for Life 2022, Australian Army Warrant Officer Class One Chris
Pleszkun and Warrant Officer Class Two Andrew Gillies, right, from 7th Signal Regiment with
the inspiration for the fundraising bike ride, with Warrant Officer Class Two Ken Leggett, centre,
in Melbourne in July 2022. Photo by WO2 Andrew Gillies
“$60,000 is a lot of money. Thank you to everyone
who donated.”
Now back at Borneo Barracks at Cabarlah, the
cyclists and their support crew are focused on settling
back into their everyday lives.
As for WO1 Pleszkun, he’s not sure when he’ll
be back on a bike.
“I bought a new bike for the trip but it sustained
damage in the crashes and I’m not sure if it’s recoverable,”
WO1 Pleszkun said.
Seniors musical
morning
Crows Nest Senior Citizens
will hold a musical
morning on Tuesday, October
25 in the Crows Nest Community
Centre starting with
morning tea at 9.30am.
Entertainment will be provided
by Ross and Deidre
Putt and there will be a trading
table and raffle.
Admission is $10. For
more details contact Pat Williams
0418 874 389.
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“I went through four wheels on the trip and
limped into Simpson Barracks at the back of the
peloton with, in addition to a flat tyre, a buckled
back wheel that had three spokes missing from
where the chain went through it.
“I think that proves I’m not a cyclist.”
To donate to the Cure for Brain Cancer Foundation
via the Round for Life 22 fundraising account
visit https://curebraincancer.grassrootz.com/
round-for-life-2022. - Captain Evita Ryan
New head for Study
Toowoomba
Toowoomba Regional Councillor
Nancy Sommerfield was
recently named as the new Chair
of Study Toowoomba, replacing
TAFE Queensland Southwest
Corporate Solutions Director
Michele Berkhout in the role.
Study Toowoomba is the
membership-based peak body
for international education and
training in Toowoomba and
represents a variety of members
who directly and indirectly con-
Cr SOMMERFIELD
Full activities program
tribute to outstanding outcomes
for international students.
Cr Sommerfield is well placed
for the role as the group’s Chair,
given her role representing
Toowoomba Regional Council
on the Study Toowoomba Management
Committee since 2020.
She has also held a previous
role in the education sector.
“I sincerely thank Michele
for her contribution to Study
Toowoomba prior to, and during
her tenure as Chair.
“Now that the international
borders are open again it enables
great opportunities, ripe for harvesting.
"I look forward to working
closely with the other committee
members to drive improved outcomes
in this space.”
The impacts of the COVID
pandemic delayed many of
Study Toowoomba’s plan in recent
years, but the group is now
confidently moving forward with
a full program of activities.
The activities will focus on
three strategic pillars - promoting
the Toowoomba region to future
international students through
destination marketing, ensuring
the international student experience
in Toowoomba exceeds expectations
and increasing industry
and community engagement
with international students.
Study Toowoomba is governed
by a volunteer Management
Committee, made up of
representatives from UniSQ,
TAFE Queensland, Downlands
College, Concordia Lutheran
College and Toowoomba Regional
Council.
To advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au