A GROUP dedicated to raising funds and awareness for brain cancer will embark on 10 days of gruelling bike riding and hiking throughout south east Asia for the Mark Hughes Foundation.
Mark Hughes, Danny Buderus, Paul Harragon and Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes were just some of the trekkers on board a bus which, departed McDonald Jones Stadium on Tuesday, October 8 en route to the airport, for the 2024 Men's Vietnam to Cambodia endurance challenge.
"It's been a huge effort by the 25 trekkers to fundraise to this point and training, and now it's just about going over and completing a very challenging couple of weeks of bike riding," brain cancer survivor and ambassador Mark Hughes said.
"We've got a good group of good people from around our community ... all sorts of different walks of life that will dig in and we'll get it done."
Starting in Saigon, travelling through Phnom Penh and finishing in Cambodia's northern province of Siam Reap, the men will battle tropical heat and thunderstorms.
"It's just getting in that team environment and pushing each other, helping each other, having a laugh and going through the tough times," Mr Hughes said.
"I definitely know brain cancer patients and their families are doing it tougher and suffering much harder hardships. So, we can grit the teeth and push through some hot days over there to help raise awareness and funds to fight brain cancer," he said.
Mr Hughes said there are also plans to stop and hold a commemoration service at Long Tan Cross to honour the spirit and sacrifice of Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War.
"We will be stopping to trace our war history before we get into some 100 kilometre type days on the bike," he said.
Money raised will go towards upgrading the MRI scanner located at HMRI, making it one of the most advanced pieces of medical machinery in Australia.
"We're very excited to be part of this upgrade, providing world-class facilities," Mr Hughes said.
He wanted to thank his sponsors and encouraged people to make donations through the Mark Hughes Foundation website.
