Taxback.com donates $500 to Smiddy Challenge for cancer research.

It’s a sad fact that despite the vast improvements in diagnosis and treatment, cancer still causes approximately 12.7 million deaths per year. Everyone knows the vital role fundraisers play in this fight against cancer; raising the money necessary to research new cancer treatments. That’s why when Renee Ker, Travel Manager with our partners Gilligans Travels, announced she will be taking part in The Bottlesmart Smiddy Challenge this year, we were only too happy to donate $500 to her fundraising efforts.

The Bottlesmart Smiling for Smiddy Challenge challenges people to raise money to cycle a mammoth 1,600km from Brisbane to Townsville between September 7^th and 14^th – a mere 8 days – with entrants covering an average of 200km per day. The challenge was established in 2006 by Mark Smoothy, a coach at The University of Queensland, in honour of his budding triathlete friend Adam Smiddy who sadly lost his battle to cancer that same year when he was only 26 years old. The money raised by the event goes towards supporting vital research into new cancer treatments by The Mater Foundation – an aim which the challenge has more than succeeded in so far. Last year the challenge raising an astounding $419,000, and now in it’s eight year, The Bottlesmart Smiling for Smiddy Challenge is set to raise more than ever with thanks to fundraisers like Renee.

Starting on September 7th Renee, along with her fellow cyclists, will face the 1,600km journey – a distance which surpasses that of the Tour de France (which runs for the same duration). For each day she cycles, Renee has been sponsored by a different company, in addition to the extra donations she has received from various other companies, including Taxback.com, supporters, family and friends. So far she has managed to raise over $4,000 – a huge amount which will no doubt grow further through donations on her fundraising page in the weeks leading up to the event. Taxback.com would like to wish Renee and everyone taking part in The Bottlesmart Smiling for Smiddy Challenge the best of luck this September. Their massive fundraising efforts will no doubt go a long way in finding breakthrough treatments for cancer patients.