Some take part to remember or support a loved one. For others, to sign-up on Sunday is for hope.

Cycle Classic is about fighting cancer with research. Now in its 11^th year, the Classic remains the primary fundraiser for Ballarat’s homegrown Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute.

Prominent AFL identities and event ambassadors Michael Malthouse and Danny Frawley have set the bar high. They want 3000 participants riding, mountain biking, walking or running.

Classics average 2000 people in action but, with no titles up for grabs and events for all abilities, Malthouse says there are no excuses for not supporting such a vital community event.

Malthouse challenged community leaders to set the tone on course, especially as the Institute has no government funding support.

But ultimately, this comes down to people turning out in force.

Cycle Classic has evolved into an event for all from road rides that take on the nationals Buninyong climb to mountain bike challenges, or the family lake ride, walk and run. This is the second consecutive year to also allow pets on course to help the cause.

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

A cancer research centre in her hometown was the vision of Ballarat teenager Fiona Elsey before she died with cancer in 1991.

Her legacy and vision has come to life at the hard work of her oncologist and clinical haematologist George Kannourakis, FECRI’s honourary director. And the Institute is backed by the drive and passion of Fiona’s family, including the nieces she never had a chance to meet.

Participants have always been asked why they ride. This year, they will be asked to put their (purple) hearts out there declaring why they are supporting cancer research. Message will form a giant heart in the events precinct.

Gail Elsey says that while her daughter Fiona had the faith and belief for cancer research to happen in Ballarat, it was the people of Ballarat who kept making it happen.

Online entries are open until events start on Sunday: reach4research.com.au

SPRUNG Circus trainer Mara Macs will bring a troupe of unicyclists to both add to the fun and mean business in the Reach4Research Cycle Classic. They have been training to ride a lap of the lake and do their bit to fight cancer by supporting Ballarat research on Sunday. Then Macs will be teaching others to try the discipline by the lake.

Her best advice to ride: “just get a unicycle and try”.

Also look out for two pennyfarthings inn action on the road rides.

Cycle Classic’s event precinct will field Wild Action, a live zoo show and the opportunity to cuddle a crocodile or snuggle up to a snake – safely. A PetStock pet-friendly zone has plenty of treats for creatures great and small.

Pet participants will be easy to spot, each getting their race bandana on entry.

There will also be live music, jumping castles and face painting for all-day family fun in the event village.

The Forge, The Provincial Hotel, Bagel Junction and Bean Me Up Mobile Espresso will be serving up beer and food for hungry participants to enjoy by the lake.

Up for grabs this year is the inaugural Alex McCallum Perpetual Team Trophy and bragging rights for grabs for the largest social team registered to ride. 

While the mass participation event is not a race, the trophy will honour keen cyclist Alex McCallum, who died in May. 

Insurance Group Protect, of which he was chief executive officer, is sponsoring the new event in his honour, and there has already been a lot of healthy competition among Ballarat clubs to capture the honour.

There is still plenty of chance to sign up for a ride, walk or run in this weekend’s Reach4Research Cycle Classic.

Online entries will remain open on Sunday, right up until your chosen event gets underway.

Participants must still collect their bibs or jerseys from the lake event precinct, on Windmill Drive, before hitting the starting line. The registration tent is open 2-6pm on Saturday, from 7am on Sunday.

Team cycle events are available for the first time this year.

SCHEDULE

8am: 50km mountain bike fat tyre challenge

8am-3pm: family fun day

8.30: Road rides (50km, 60km, 85km and 100km)

8.45: Mountain bike fat tyre challenge (28km, 33km, 40km)

9.15: Pet-friendly 6km walk and run around Lake Wendouree

9:30: 2.5-hour lake ride around Lake Wendouree