Canberra Mountain Bike Event to Raise Funds for Head and Neck Cancer

Fresh from its first Parliamentary Breakfast in Canberra on March 7, Head and Neck Cancer Australia is joining forces with Big Hill Events, to host its first Mountain Bike ride event in Canberra, the 2023 Capital Classic MTB, on Sunday, 2 April 2023.

The brainchild of Board Director, former Head and Neck Cancer patient and Canberra resident, Carolyn Smith, and her cousin Nigel Harvey, former Head of Marketing at Australian cycling distributor, PSI Cycling, the ride will feature 50, 25 and 10 kilometre options, on the popular Majura Trails Network.

The ride will start and finish at the iconic Mount Majura Vineyard offering a beautiful spot for those cheering on friends and family, or anyone who wants to come along and help support and spread awareness for Head and Neck Cancer. The event village will feature Canberra institution Grease Monkey, gin-tasting from The Canberra Distillery, Majura wine tasting and more.

Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) is a brutal disease. Treatment can leave a person unable to smile or laugh and take away basic abilities that we all take for granted like speaking, eating and drinking, breathing, swallowing, hearing and eyesight. For some it can result in devastating facial disfigurements that cannot be hidden by clothing and is displayed for the world to see. 

The treatments for HNC are widely acknowledged in the cancer community to be among the toughest on patients. While 71% of people will survive HNC their short and long-term needs are complex, and their ongoing quality of life is often distressingly poor. 

In Australia 5,100 people are newly diagnosed each year and there are over 17,000 people living with the side effects of HNC. 

There is currently no Australian Government funding for HNC patient navigation, education or for supporting access to supportive care for people living with HNC in Australia. Unlike other more common cancers there are no HNC specialist nurses to support navigation and access to care. Funds raised will enable us to advocate for specialist Head and Neck Cancer nurses to assist patients, before, during and after their treatment.