Cath: Not Giving Up

In 2009, Paul Reidy and Cath Walters launched a gala event in honour of their daughter Tiana, to raise funds for the Children's Cancer Foundation - Tiana's Night of Sparkles, raising $18,300. That same year, Cath rode with the Foundation's Cytotoxic Cyclists team in her first Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay, and has since raised more than $130,000 for the Children's Cancer Foundation.

Inspired to ride

My fiancée, Paul and I were living an ideal life with our beautiful four-year-old girl, Tiana.

But then, in July 2004, Tiana was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma and admitted to The Royal Children’s Hospital to start her treatment

One day, Tiana’s oncologist Dr Peter Downie told us about this amazing cycle relay (the Murray to Moyne) from Echuca to Port Fairy he and some other doctors, nurses, carers and even patients did over a weekend to raise money for the Children's Cancer Foundation.

With our recently diagnosed little girl, Paul and l decided to drive to Echuca to surprise Dr Downie. We made a banner to cheer him and the team (the Cytotoxic Cyclists) on, Tiana had her photo taken with the team and we watched them ride off. The next year we went again and then also headed to the finish line in Port Fairy with the Lyons family, whose son Liam was being treated for cancer.

In 2008, I was waiting to see Dr Downie at The Royal Children’s Hospital, when Mary McGowan asked if I wanted to join their Murray to Moyne team, as they didn’t have many riders. I said I’d love to!

It was 10 weeks out before the ride; I didn’t even have a bike, so I borrowed my brother-in-law’s bike and started riding. My first ride was 40 km, but in a few weeks, I was riding over 200 km a week.

Ten weeks later, I rode 250 km. It was such an achievement for me.

Riding across the finish line in Port Fairy with the team to the cheers of my friends, family, the support team and my biggest fan, Tiana was a wonderful experience.

It was such an amazing 24 hours, that I keep coming back for more.

It is a weekend you will never regret or forget.

Never give up

Sadly, Tiana lost her five-year battle with cancer in 2009. The Murray to Moyne was her favourite weekend and she looked forward to being on the finishing line every year.

I ride with her photo in my bike bag, so she is always with me. I know she rides with us and keeps us safe.

Every year is special in its own way – the people you meet, the passion they have for this ride and the way everyone rides for a different reason that is personal to them.

The most enjoyable part of the ride is catching up with everyone, as since Paul and I moved to Queensland we don’t get to see many of the Cytotoxic Cyclists team throughout the year. So, each ride is like a reunion.

The greatest distance I’ve ever rode is 350 km. I was hurting so much my neck, legs and body were shattered and 10 km out I had nothing left.

Lea Noad, nurse at The Royal Children’s Hospital (her husband is also our bus driver extraordinaire) and Mary were following in the support car. I dropped back and told Lea that I wasn’t going to make it and needed to get in the car. Lea’s words were: “You’re not giving up now; you’re a fighter!”

I looked up at the sky, it was a beautiful night with all the stars were sprinkled across the sky, and I remembered why I do this ride.

I ride for all the beautiful children that are hurting more than I was at that point.

I ride for my little girl who went through so much pain and fought so hard to beat her illness.

I kept riding.

There was no way I was giving up.

Research Update

Neuroblastoma continues to cause a disproportionate number of children’s cancer deaths, particularly in young children. The Children’s Cancer Foundation is partnering with the Steven Walter Children’s Cancer Foundation and the Hyundai Help for Kids to fund three neuroblastoma clinical trials across nine Australian and New Zealand hospitals. These important trials over the next 4 years will focus on improving treatment options and survival rates of patients.

Thank you to Cath and Paul for sharing their story with the Children's Cancer Foundation.

Contact us for more information about joining our Murray to Moyne team.  Discover more stories from 'Behind the Spokes with the Cytotoxic Cyclists.'