What does it really take to cycle 1,300 kms in 9 days for charity?

In this week’s interview between KONA Group MD Glenn Dobson and Tour de Chance major sponsor Just Better Care, Glenn shares the excitement and fears of this year’s ride as we learn more about how and why ‘every day’ people push themselves to their limits to help people with severe disabilities, while still balancing a successful business and family. JBC: Why are you cycling 1,300kms from Melbourne to Sydney in November? Are you crazy?! GD: There’s two reasons – the first is to spend a week in the fresh air and challenging myself physically in a multi-day sporting event. Endurance events are something I just love doing – since I reached 40 I’ve run across the Sahara and Australian deserts; completed 23 Ironman triathlons and this is my third Just Better Care Tour de Chance so I just love the challenge. The other side, the other reason is that I have a healthy family – I’ve got two healthy daughters, I’ve got three healthy grandchildren – and I think sometimes we all get caught up in the day to day and we forget how lucky we actually are. So for myself it’s a real chance to give back. I couldn’t do what the carers do at Just Better Care or at Fighting Chance so this is my way of contributing to society. JBC: How are you preparing? GD: My preparation this year has been a lot different to previous years as I haven’t been on the bicycle for 16 months since last years ride from Brisbane! I had to dig my bike out of the garage, dust it off and actually get back on it about 6 weeks ago. Outside of that I’ve really gotten into Crossfit which is about weights, strength, gymnastics, running, rowing, climbing, jumping – the whole shebang. Physically I’m quite healthy but 1,300kms well test me out. Anybody can go out and ride for a day or two but at day 3 it starts to gets hard. When you have to get back up day after day after day your body doesn’t recover quickly enough and you have to really push through the mental and physical barriers. Day 2 we will cycle 183 kms, day 3 is 177 kms, day 4 is 162 kms and so on, so an endurance event like this is 80% mental and 20% physical. Also because it is a charity event it’s not a race – the Tour de Chance will be 18 guys and a lady who will be supporting each other and everybody will help each other to get through the tough days. JBC: What are your expectations? GD: My expectations for myself are to finish the ride and to enjoy it without being too fatigued. However financially it’s to raise desperately needed funds for Fighting Chance. The charity industry is a very competitive industry and if each rider achieves their $15,000 donation target, or more, that makes a very big difference as we will change the lives of over 80 young people with disabilities by opening up 2 more ‘Hubs’. In addition, KONA is Australia’s leading Sales Training and Sales Management Training company so I revel in sales targets and as soon as that $15,000 target went up I had everything working towards it. Our consultants, families and and clients have been making donations and/or selling raffle tickets; we’ve had BBQs and sausage sizzles; run events; taken donations; we’ve used LinkedIn, eDMs, Facebook; had donation buckets in retailers & car boot sales; door knocked most of the businesses in the local suburbs; posted updates on our website at KONA.com.au etc etc. We have had everything going on for a couple of months now as for me we can’t forget that the main goal is to raise funds for these severely disabled young Australians. JBC: What are you looking forward to? GD: I’m really looking forward to the challenge as 1,300 is not an easy distance. I’m looking forward to pushing myself physically, out in all of the weathers that Victoria will throw at us; I’m looking forward to being away from computers and all the’easy’  stuff we go through everyday. JBC: What are you dreading? GD: I’m dreading the hills. When we came down from Brisbane last year there were a few hills but nothing like this year. On day 5 we climb up into Jindabyne, and at 6 feet 1 and 88 kilos I’m not good going uphill. Some of the smaller younger riders can really climb but I fit into the too-old-too-slow basket! JBC: What is your goal? GD: My goal is twofold (outside of the finishing of course) – my first goal is to go over the $15,000 donation target and also to try and help some of the other guys achieve their donations targets. If we can all hit the $15, 000 each that will make a big difference to the lives of so many people. In addition, the final goal is that everyone comes home safe and we all come home with our donation target achieved, individually and as a group. So if you or your organisation would like to donate to this wonderful charity please go to https://tourdechance2016.raisely.com/glenndobson Alternatively contact Glenn directly on 0425 200883 or glenn@kona.com.au to discuss how we can help your organisation.