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Wednesday, 26 February 2014
The 2014 Future2 Wheel Classic – the annual long-distance cycling event that is now an established part of the foundation’s fundraising calendar – will follow a new route from Melbourne to Adelaide between 13-19 November.
The 2014 Future2 Wheel Classic – the annual long-distance cycling event that is now an established part of the foundation’s fundraising calendar – will follow a new route from Melbourne to Adelaide between 13-19 November. The cyclists will ride into Adelaide to a reception on the eve of the Financial Planning Association’s Professionals Congress.
Expressions of interest are being made by financial planners from around Australia, keen to test their mettle on the 900-plus km ride over seven days. Online registrations will open in March for both the Future2 Wheel Classic and the Virtual Wheel Classic, which allows cyclists who can’t ride in November to shadow the event while on training rides or in the gym.
The money raised will bring new opportunity and hope to disadvantaged young Australians through Future2’s Make the Difference! Grants. The grants are made to community not-for-profits following applications that have the support of a local member of the Financial Planning Association. The Wheel Classic events have raised a total of over $420,000 since its inception in 2010.
Future2 trustee and creator of the Wheel Classic Ray Griffin welcomed a shorter and less arduous route for this year’s ride, hoping it will encourage even more participation among financial planners.
“The routes we followed in the first four years (Bourke to Sydney in 2010 and 2011, Sydney to Melbourne in 2012 and Melbourne to Sydney in 2013) involved 1250 km of cycling for nine days over challenging terrain. This year, we’ll ride around 1,000 km in a southerly sweep through Victoria and South Australia, with modest elevations. It’s still a challenge but one that we believe will have wide appeal.”
Matthew Rowe, Financial Planning Association (FPA) Chair and Future2 trustee, welcomed the prospect of the cyclists’ arrival in Adelaide on the eve of the FPA Professionals Congress. “The Wheel Classic is all about financial planning professionals giving back to the community through their participation in the ride, just as they do every day through the quality financial advice they provide to clients. These dedicated financial planners are doing something they love while also helping to make better lives for young people who are in need and at risk. That’s a great result all round and the FPA commends our members who have committed to join in.”
“At Congress, hundreds of financial planning professionals will laud the achievement of the Wheel Classic riders and hear the stories of some of the young people whose lives have been changed with a little help from Future2”, he said.
Early expressions of interest in the Wheel Classic and Virtual Wheel Classic can be made by email to [email protected]. The day by day route will be announced in early March. View highlights of the 2013 Future2 Wheel Classic at http://vimeo.com/77760240 .