Riding for Lexi. Riding for Starlight.

1,000 kilometres. Seven days. One very personal reason.

In April 2027, I'll be taking on the Chain Reaction Challenge once again, cycling 1,000 kilometres around Tasmania over seven days to raise funds for children's charities, including the Starlight Children's Foundation.

For me, this is much more than a cycling challenge. It's an opportunity to give back to an organisation that made an enormous difference to my family during one of the toughest periods of our lives.

Our story

When our daughter Lexi was just two years old, she was diagnosed with Wilms tumour, a form of kidney cancer. What started as unexplained fevers quickly became every parent's worst nightmare. Within 24 hours of taking her to hospital, we learned that she had a tumour on her kidney that had ruptured and spread to her lungs.

Our world was turned upside down.

What followed was an incredibly difficult period for Lexi and our family. Chemotherapy, surgery to remove her kidney, countless hospital visits, procedures and long days of uncertainty became part of everyday life.

As parents, watching your child go through something like that is heartbreaking. You'd do anything to take their place, but instead you have to put your trust in the incredible medical professionals caring for them and do everything you can to stay positive.

That's where Starlight came in.

For Lexi, hospital was initially a frightening place. The constant procedures, needles and treatments were overwhelming for someone so young.

But the Starlight Express Room and the wonderful Captain Starlights changed that.

Suddenly, going to hospital wasn't just about treatment. It was about visiting the Starlight Room, playing games, laughing with the Captains and, for a little while, simply being a kid again.

I still remember how Lexi went from being scared of hospital visits to actually looking forward to them because she knew she'd get to spend time with the Starlight team.

It's difficult to explain just how much that means to a parent until you've experienced it yourself. Seeing your child smile and laugh when they're going through something so difficult is something you never forget.

Why I'm riding

Cycling has become my way of giving back.

Having completed the Chain Reaction Challenge previously, I know just how demanding seven days and 1,000 kilometres on the bike can be. There will be plenty of climbing, tired legs and moments when I'd rather be anywhere else than on another hill.

But I also know that any discomfort I experience on the bike is nothing compared to what children like Lexi endure through serious illness.

That's what keeps me motivated.

In 2027, I'll be back on the bike, taking on a lap of Tasmania alongside a fantastic group of riders, all committed to making a difference for sick children and their families.

How you can help

Having seen firsthand the difference Starlight makes, I know that every donation matters.

Starlight gives seriously ill children something that can easily get lost amongst the hospital visits, treatments and uncertainty — the chance to laugh, play and experience some of the joy of childhood.

It also gives parents something incredibly precious: the opportunity to see their child happy, even during the hardest times.

I'm asking my friends, family and professional network to support me in this challenge. Whether it's a small donation, a larger contribution or simply sharing my fundraising page, every bit of support is genuinely appreciated.

I'll be riding 1,000 kilometres, but the real heroes are the kids who face challenges far greater than anything I'll experience on a bike.

Thank you for supporting me, Starlight and the many families who need a little extra light during their darkest days.

Evan

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