The weekend kicks off on Saturday with a cyclo-cross event at Hammon Park before the main event gravel rides on Sunday.

Both the 82km full course and 42km short course start from Hammon Park and traverse the area's gravel roads, tracks and laneways with the full course's making its way through Clunes at its halfway point.

Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring coordinator for Ballarat Jodie Downey said it was the third attempt at organising the event which has been previously prevented by COVID-19 restrictions.

"It's a big deal because we know we're at the start of something really exciting and we've got 500 riders in a semi-pandemic environment so people are just really keen," she said.

"The money from this fundraiser will go to the Ballarat mentoring... Big Brothers Big Sisters is a national organisation, the headquarters are in Melbourne, but the Ballarat component or program will be funded by this charity event so we're just so thrilled."

Alfredton mentor Mary Parsons has been volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters for almost a year and said she's seen a lot of personal growth in her match, Nakisha.

"She was very, very quiet to begin with... She bounces out now and she's like, 'Hi, Mary!', and badgers on about all the things that she's been doing and her YouTube program and how many people are following her so we've built quite a great friendship, it's a very comfortable friendship," she said.

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"She loves her hot chocolate so I've made that part of what we do each week. We go and get a nice hot chocolate and whether I make it at home, because she comes to my home sometimes, or we go out around the lake and wander out around there. We've got a few secret spots around that we hang out at."

Matt Burch has also been be volunteering for around a year, mentoring his match Ari, and said being able to mentor and influence a young person's life gave him a sense of achievement.

"Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have positive mentors and role models in my life, to be able to pass that on is a great thing to do," he said.

"You almost feel like growing up as an adult, it's your responsibility to pass on your learnings and this has been able to provide that. It's so tough growing up these days, they have so many more challenges, I think now is even more important for young kids to have a positive role model or mentor in their life."

For more information or to register, visit www.pigandwhistle.cc

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