WITH his sights set on the 2016 Paralympic Games, Trigg local Brant Garvey will cycle 5200km to raise money for a cause close to his heart this month.
Mr Garvey, who was born an above the knee amputee, will complete the Great Southern Crossing virtual cycling challenge for the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Foundation. The Great Southern Crossing encourages elite cyclists and triathletes to join teams of up to five people to ride 5200km – the equivalent of riding from Perth to Brisbane.
Mr Garvey said his connection with PHM Foundation was personal because of his younger sister’s battle with cancer.
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“Ewing’s Sarcoma is a cancer which mostly affects children. It started in her hip and she had radiotherapy and chemotherapy to treat it, but then it spread to her lung and then to her spine.”
Mr Garvey said the PMH foundation provided much needed support when the family moved to Perth from Albany for his sister’s treatment.
“My sister has been cancer-free for five years now; she runs a business in Albany and is doing well and is absolutely flat out,” he said.
The 30-year-old said he only started cycling and running in 2013, yet he had surpassed all odds to become an elite triathlete who is training for the upcoming Paralympic Games.
“I was always told running would be impossible for me,” he said.
“This was the perfect excuse because cycling is probably my weakest leg in the race at the moment.
“One of the things I’m doing is basically choosing to ride my bike everywhere instead of driving through November, which will make life interesting.”
A self-confessed beach lover, Mr Garvey said he had lived in Scarborough and Trigg since he arrived in Perth.
“My wife is a Scarborough girl so she wouldn’t let me leave this suburb – even if I wanted to.
“We’re always running, cycling and surfing along the coast, we spend our whole life against the waters edge,”
PMH Foundation chief executive Denys Pearce said the Great Southern Crossing was a unique event for cyclists and triathletes to take on while fundraising for a fantastic cause to support children in WA.
To donate to Mr Garvey’s team visit greatsoutherncrossing.everydayhero.com/au/brant-garvey