Mr Chan has seen first-hand how bicycle ownership could improve the life of Cambodians. He is now riding to raise awareness for not-for-profit organisation Bicycles for Humanity and its work to alleviate poverty through sustainable transport.

Cycle for Humanity is a challenge to ride 110 kilometres this month, cumulatively or in one big ride, and raise one dollar for each kilometre. Mr Chan aims to ride an extra kilometres for each additional dollar he can raise.

“The reason I pick this event is that it’s a bit more inclusive – you don’t have to do big rides to make the distance,” Mr Chan said.

”I also like that it’s a grassroots organisation….I find it incredible that a bike can facilitate education, healthcare and childhood development just because people can access a bike to cover more distance.”

Bicycles for Humanity ships second-hand bikes to locations like Namibia, Zambia, Madagascar and Cambodia. Shipping containers used to transport the bikes are kept in the community as bike empowerment centres, employing locals as bike mechanics and in small business.

This is the fifth year Mr Chan has been involved with the organisation, including a trip to Cambodia when he helped provide second-hand bikes for teenagers to get to high school.

Mr Chan moved from Melbourne to Ballarat in December, joining Lake Health Group, but was unaware of this city’s strong cycle culture until he got out on the bike and through his work.

He hoped to build on his cycle challenge next year, encouraging more riders in Ballarat to try cycling for humanity with the possibility of forming teams and covering kilometres together.

The 110km significance in the challenge, now in its third year, represents the 11,100km gap between Melbourne and Namibia.

“It’s a good chance to see how many kilometres you can get up during the month and at the end, there’s a party in Melbourne – you can ride to if you want – to celebrate empowerment,” Mr Chan said.

An added bonus, Mr Chan said, the challenge helped encourage people to get active and realise how quickly each little ride, or daily commute, could add up in mileage.

While Mr Chan was happy for any support, he urged others to take up the challenge, saying there was still time left before the April 2 finish to make up the kilometre tally.

For details, or to support Mr Chan, visit bicyclesforhumanity.com.