WESTERN Bulldogs official AFL mascot Caesar will use tap-and-go technology to collect donations for homegrown cancer research on Sunday.
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Caesar, who hails from Ballarat, will be on patrol in the lively events village for Ballarat Cycle Classic on Sunday. His collection limit, using modern technology, is set for $2 taps - and possible pats if he obliges.
Donation points will be peppered about the events village but Caesar was quietly confident he could win over with his smile.
The Bulldogs are also hosting a football activity site in the village for people to refine their handball and kicking skills this pre-season.
Ballarat Cycle Classic has raised more than $1.8 million in the past 12 years for Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute.
The free village is the place to be to enjoy the festival between events or for supporters to hang out and have fun.
Children can test out the Federation University science activation and see what they can find through microscopes or by making their own lab coats.
A broad menu of food trucks will be on site with live music, unicycles, circus school and face painting among the fun.
Ballarat City Brass Band is teaming up with City Of Ballarat's learner brass band to lead out the pet-friendly lake walk and run in brassy style to the tune of Waltzing Matilda from 9am.
More than 60 per cent of early registrations are from visitors to Ballarat with 100 per cent of entry fees going towards FECRI's world-class cancer research.
All FECRI scientists and PhD students will be among more than 250 volunteers on course as marshalls and lolly and drink stops.
Ballarat Cycle Classic events village is open on Sunday from 7am for registrations with action in the village kicking off as events roll out through the morning.
All you need to know to take part
REGISTRATIONS will remain open online for Ballarat Cycle Classic until events get underway on Sunday morning: ballaratcycleclassic.com.au.
You can still register in person in the events village, near Windmill Drive, on Saturday 2-6pm and Sunday from 7am.
ROAD RIDES: 50km, 60km, 85km and 100km courses, all taking in the nationals' Mount Buninyong climb, from 8.15am.
MOUNTAIN BIKE: 40km challenge or 50km extreme ride, from 7.45am.
FAMILY RIDES: 6km laps of the lake (from 8.45am), 28km adventure ride (8.30am).
ON FOOT: Pet-friendly 6km walk or fun, from 9am.
Events start and finish in the Lake Wendouree events precinct, which features live entertainment, food and fun.
Weather conditions are forecast to be 30C and mostly sunny and not windy.
Reason to ride for Fiona Elsey's vision
STREATHAM mother-of-four Kerrie Mulcahy, Creswick chef Paul Williams and veteran cyclist Volker Hegert have acutely felt the horror effects of cancer.
They share their personal stories in a bid to help fight cancer with world-class research in Ballarat. They hope their stories make a difference in both saving lives and sparing others from what they have endured.
Ms Mulcahy was 42 years old, her youngest child 10 months old, when staring at a death sentence with breast cancer. A double-mastectomy revealed the cancer was not as aggressive as first diagnosed, but the mental scars still linger on her young family.
Mr Williams rides to honour his mother Emma, who died aged 53 with breast cancer. He was 22 years old. Mr Williams rides to promote early detection and awareness.
Mr Hegert is a two-time prostate cancer survivor who says that without advances in technology and treatment from research, he would unlikely still be here today.
Together, their united appeal has played out in a broadcast campaign wanting you to ride, walk, run or roll in Ballarat Cycle Classic to raise money for Fiona Elsey Research Institute.
The Institute is the vision of Ballarat teenager Fiona Elsey, who died with cancer in 1991. Fiona made her oncologist George Kannourkis to find a way to carry out international cancer research in their hometown.
Almost 30 years later, FECRI is making world-class contributions to cancer research, with particular recognition in ovarian cancer and histiocytic disorders.
FECRI has nine senior scientific staff and eight PhD students from Federation University.
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