AFL legend Shane Crawford to join Tasmanian cycling challenge

Nineteen cyclists from across Australia will set off tomorrow from Devonport in Tasmania for the 2017 Future2 Wheel Classic, raising money for the Financial Planning Association’s (FPA) Future2 Foundation.

The seven-day, 726km fundraising ride will go from north to south, taking an inland route via Cradle Mountain and Queenstown to arrive in Hobart in time for the opening of the FPA Professionals Congress on Wednesday 22 November.

The 2017 event is the eighth organised by the Future2 Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA). The event raises much needed funds to bring new opportunity and hope to socially and financially disadvantaged young Australians
through its Make the Difference! grants program.

This year’s Tasmania cycling challenge has nearly 7,000 metres of climbing, making it one of the toughest challenges yet.

Media welcome at starting line

The ride kicks off from the Gateway Hotel, located on Fenton Street, Devonport. Media are invited to attend the official launch starting at 8:00am for photos and interviews, and riders will depart at 8:30am sharp. Coffee, tea and morning refreshments will be available.

Australian AFL legend, Shane Crawford, will be one of the participating riders this year as an ambassador of Future2 Gold Sponsor AIA Vitality. Shane is a former Australian rules footballer who played 305 senior games for Hawthorn Football Club, winning the Australian Football League’s highest individual honour, the Brownlow Medal. Shane will be available on the morning for photos and interviews.

Future2 Chair, Matthew Brown CFP® said: “The 2017 Wheel Classic, our first in Tasmania, promises a spectacular ride that tests the stamina of the participants, but spurring them on will be the camaraderie of the team and the knowledge that their efforts will help young Australians turn their adversity into opportunity.”

Since 2007, when Future2 was established on the initiative of FPA members, over $823,000 has been committed in grants to grassroots programs that transform the lives of young people who through no fault of their own, struggle to make a ‘go’ in life. Past Wheel Classic routes have included Sydney to Melbourne (2012), Melbourne to Sydney (2013), Melbourne to Adelaide (2014) and Sydney to Brisbane (2015) and last year’s Perth challenge (2016).

Future2 gratefully acknowledges its 2017 Wheel Classic Gold Sponsor, AIA Vitality, and Silver Sponsor, IRESS.

To contribute to any of the riders, please visit their fundraising page: http://www.future2fundraising.org.au/event/wheelclassic2017/top_ten

This year’s Wheel Classic riders are:

For more information about Future2 please visit: www.future2foundation.com.au