Dear Friends and Supporters, Here we are with only an 86km ride tomorrow to finish this epic event. The support and encouragement that I have received from you all over the last weeks and that the other Fighting Chance team members have been getting from their networks has been nothing short of amazing. It has been an unbelievable experience so far and I am sure that it is only going to get better tomorrow. The riders and our incredible support team are all so very pumped. Not sure how we are going to keep a lid on the excitement tonight at dinner – could get messy!! Today’s ride was a respectable 126km from Nelson Bay to The Entrance which took us past the 1000km mark for the 9 days. Again there was some remarkable early morning scenery (which we have been fortunate enough to enjoy pretty much the whole way down the coast) and the beautiful beaches around Newcastle were at their resplendent best as we cycled past today. Tim took a bit of a tumble today – nothing dramatic but anytime someone of his size and age hits the bitumen it is never pleasant. You would think that when you take a fall in a team event like this that everyone would rush over to see it you were ok etc. – not this mob, there was a rush…. but it was for the photo! Steve Grant also took out Peter Ebden while doing a sedate 3kms an hour but no injuries About 6 weeks before the Tour Tim spoke with his daughter Ashleigh (who has cerebral palsy) about possibly doing a piece of art for Fighting Chance – she loves a project (especially if it is art) and got straight to it. It took her over a month to finish but we have been astounded with what she produced. It is genuinely stunning! See image below: We are auctioning the piece (with all proceeds going to Fighting Chance) – it has been framed and elegantly inscribed with “Tour de Chance 2014” in gold lettering on the white border at the bottom of the picture. In creating the work Ashleigh used vibrant colours, painted wheels and used different objects dipped into paint along with her own hand prints, the circular shapes represent the wheels and spokes of a bicycle. Photo’s don’t do it justice but I have attached one below. Those of you coming to the Festival tomorrow will be able to see it for yourselves. There is more info on the piece on the on-line auction site (which will close at months end) https://www.myminiauction.com/fightingchance The Queensland version of the 7.30 Report segment airs tonight on ABC (for Qld based viewers). Hopefully it includes the footage they took at the start of the Tour in Manly Qld. We will share the link as soon as it becomes available. Sincere thanks to those of you who donated overnight (and prior) – we are now only $7k short of our Tour de Chance target (and I am only $2,100 from my personal target). SO CLOSE!! If you would like to support us the link is https://makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/DobsonG Please feel free to share this email with people in your network who might be interested in the this very worthy cause – I have attached the link to the statement on how the money raised will be spent https://www.tourdechance.com.au/where-the-money-goes/ Thanks again everyone! Until tomorrow… Glenn To donate please go to https://makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/DobsonG Glenn Dobson is the Managing Director of the KONA Group and raising funds for Fighting Chance, a charity that supports young people with cerebral palsy and other severe disabilities. For more information on KONA’s sales and sales management training and coaching courses in Sydney or Melbourne Australia, or how you can donate to our Brisbane to Sydney ride please call 1300 611 288 or email glenn@KONA.com.au