Grafton's Nikki Taylor has found a home away from home in Newcastle while her daughter undergoes leukaemia treatment.
Indi, six, was diagnosed in June and will be in and out of John Hunter Hospital for the next six to nine months.
Having to travel five hours from home, Ms Taylor wasn't sure where they were going to stay until she was offered a unit at the Ronald McDonald House.
"I don't know how we would have done this without the support of everyone here, just physically being here, just the emotional support and friends and connections that we've made, is phenomenal," she said.
On Friday, August 30, cyclists pedalled fast to spin smoothies for families ahead of their 500-kilometre fundraising ride for Ronald McDonald House Charities, Northern NSW (RMHC).
Around 25 riders will set off on September 2, cycling from Glen Innes to Newcastle, aiming to raise between $200,000 and $250,000 for families like the Taylors.
Ms Taylor, Indi and her six-year-old son, Levi, have been at a unit at the RMHC for two months so far.
"Being here with all the other kids, for Indi especially, it's really normalised her experience," she said.
"There are so many other oncology kids here too with losing their hair and they all run around and play together."
Levi can hang out with the other siblings and goes to school at the hospital while his sister has treatment.
"We go home to Grafton, and now we come back home here," Ms Taylor said.
She said Indi was in "really good spirits" despite having a bit of a rough start.
"The last couple weeks she's been doing amazing, we still have a long road ahead but she's doing well," she said.
Glen Innes to Newcastle
In its 20th year, Ride for Sick Kids aims to provide more than 1400 nights' accommodation for ill or injured children and their families.
RMHC Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said they had raised around $4 million in the past 19 rides.
"We are very excited, I've been lucky enough to be on every single ride," Mr Bingham said.
He said the Ronald McDonald House provided an essential service for rural families who travel long distances to the John Hunter Hospital.
"Those families need somewhere to stay and have a place you can call home," he said.
First time rider, Alix Sills, said she wanted to help people who were in vulnerable positions and struggling.
"I would never want to be in a position that these families are in so if I can do something to help them, I'm going to do that," she said.
To support Ride for Sick Kids visit:https://nnswfundraising.rmhc.org.au/event/community-ride-for-sick-kids-nnsw-2024/community
