A 10-metre tall Heart of Hope will be filled with smaller purple hearts carrying the names of loved ones each participant is dedicating their efforts to in next month’s Reach4Research Cycle Classic.

The Cycle Classic has been the biggest fundraiser to fighting cancer at Ballarat’s Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute for the past 11 years.

For Gail Elsey, the heart symbolises remembrance, love and hope. Heart of Hope will be introduced to the Cycle Classic village precinct by Lake Wendouree this year in what Ms Elsey hoped would help allow others to celebrate love and share their heartfelt messages for why they ride.

“(Cycle Classic) give everyone the opportunity to come together to participate in support of cancer research, but also in remembering loved ones lost to this disease and in giving hope to people battling at the moment,” Ms Elsey said. 

“There are many people living with cancer. We need to find better ways to treat this disease and this can only be achieved through research.”

A cancer research centre in her hometown was Fiona Elsey’s vision before she died with cancer in 1991, aged 14.

Cycle Classic attracts more than 2,000 participants each year across road rides on the nationals course, mountain bike challenges, the family lake ride and the pet-friendly lake walk and run. The village precinct also features family fun festival activities.

All entry fees are donated to FECRI’s work in unlocking the riddles of cancer, which has been making big leaps in immunology.

“Fiona would be extremely grateful for the prodigious effort by our community, outlying districts and individuals who have made her vision and passion become a reality,” Ms Elsey said.

“Fiona’s compassion and empathy was evident by her drive to see research come to fruition. She instilled the faith and belief for research to happen right here in Ballarat.”

Reach4Research Cycle Classic is on February 18. For more details, or to register for an event, visit reach4research.com.au.

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