Cyclist sets off on 4,000-kilometer journey

DAN Scott set off on a bike ride from Beauty Park in Frankston on Monday. His destination is 4,000 kilometres away. Scott began a 40-day journey from Frankston to Darwin on 1 July. He is raising money for the Children’s Cancer Institute.

Scott spent time in the hospital in 2022 after crashing his bike in Los Angeles while traveling from Virginia Beach to San Diego. He said his time in the hospital inspired him to try to make a difference. “Towards the end of the trip I had a terrible accident where I fell off my bike and broke my elbow. I had nowhere to recover in the US and went home to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. It really opened my eyes to the experiences people go through while in hospital,” he said. “I was only there for three days, but some kids are in and out of hospital their entire childhood. That didn’t sit well with me.”

To make the journey to Darwin, Scott will need to cycle about 100 kilometres a day. To ensure he’s ready for the odyssey, he says he needs to prepare mentally. “With this kind of cycling, 90 percent of the battle is mental. Some days you don’t want to do 100 kilometres and you dread every kilometre,” he said. “You have to find ways to keep your mental game strong. I do get nervous or anxious before a ride, but I know the moment I get on the bike it washes away and I can focus. There will be days when it’s a struggle, but you develop a mindset where giving up is not an option.”

Scott set off from Beauty Park to travel to Sorrento. From there he will sail to Queenscliff before cycling to Adelaide and then north to Darwin. So far Scott has raised over $2,000 for the Children’s Cancer Institute. He said he is “really proud” to be working with the organisation.

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/ride-to-darwin-for-the-kids