ACA & Kodak - Two Leaders In For The Long Ride

With the slogan "you press the button, we do the rest," George Eastman put the first simple camera into the hands of a world of consumers in 1888. In so doing, he made a cumbersome and complicated process easy to use and accessible to nearly everyone.

Today Kodak is known not only for photography, but also for images used in a variety of leisure, commercial, entertainment and scientific applications.   Its reach increasingly involves the use of technology to combine images and information--creating the potential to profoundly change how people and businesses communicate.

ACA Pacific is a private held Australian leader in the distribution of specialist information technology hardware and software solutions. With over 23 years of experience and continual growth, ACA Pacific has earned itself a reputation for having a thorough knowledge of its customers’ needs and a firm grasp of technology. Having evolved from a volume distributor of storage products to today’s successful value-added solutions provider, ACA Pacific's business approach emphasises customer service, excellence in product sales and technical knowledge and a continued commitment to the profitability of all channel partners through value-added services.

Together, both of these leaders, have joined the challenge of raising awareness and finding a cure for prostate cancer by coming in for the Long Ride.

The very generous nature of ACA Pacific and its staff has seen this leader in technology solutions join me on the epic 10,000 kilometre ride through a donation package which will see the company logo of both ACA Pacific and Kodak worn during the duration of the Long Ride.

It's the very generosity of great businesses like this that ensure the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia has the funds to do the great work that it does.

For more information on ACA Pacific and what they can offer your business please visit http://www.acapacific.com.au/

Community Support

There's no doubt that many towns throughout Australia get behind the Long Ride, and one such example is Cobar in central New South Wales.

Day two of the Long Ride will see the Victorian riders head straight up through the middle of NSW and the town of Cobar.  This town of around 5,500 people is one of the first to offer some support of my ride with the Cobar Business Association putting a call out to it's member businesses for support.

Through the great work of the Shire Council hopefully some local businesses will support a great cause and spread the word about mens health.  And hopefully we'll get to meet some great local people.

I'm Ugly

There's no doubt about it, one of the most important things I took on the last Long Ride was my pair of Ugly Fish Ultimate sunnies.

Considering my 'normal' glasses went flying off the bike on the first day I was bloody lucky that Ugly Fish make perscription inserts for their glasses and motorbike goggles.

Since the original 4000kms the Ugly's have been with me ever since and I couldn't ride without them, regardless of whether I'm wearing the open or full face helmet.  They've now been around for about 10,000k's.

The other great thing about Ugly Fish is that they supported my Long Ride by donating two pairs of their latest sunnies, all up helping to raise around $500 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.  The great news is that Ugly Fish have promised to help out again and come along for the ride and help raise funds.

There's no doubt about it that Ugly Fish are one of the best eyewear companies around especially the support they give to things like the Long Ride I'm doing but also things like the Black Dog Ride, raising awareness for depression and mental illness.

Before we get a few things happening with the Ugly's why not check out their range of great sunnies and get a pair or two for yourself.

Getting Ready For The Long Ride

It's on again, the Long Ride, and this time it will be epic. A 10,000km round trip to Cairns taking in central Victoria; New South Wales; and Queensland before turning right and heading towards Townsville before heading north to Cairns.

The return trip will see a massive ride down the spine of Australia, the Great Dividing Range.

With less than 300 days to go to the start of the ride the actual route has been set and plans are well under way to secure accomodation and set the fuel stops. There's also plenty of plans to get local businesses and community groups along the way involved. If you would like more information on how you can be involved please email me.

More information will be available in coming weeks and months however, the below will give a good guide of the journey taken on my Long Ride.

Saturday, May 4 - Melbourne to Hay

Sunday, May 5 - Hay to Bourke

Monday, May 6 - Bourke to Charleville

Tuesday, May 7 - Charleville to Barcaldine

Wednesday, May 8 - Barcaldine to Hughenden

Thursday, May 9 - Hughenden to Townsville

Friday, May 10 - Townsville to Atherton

Saturday, May 11 - Atherton to Cairns

Monday, May 13 - Cairns to Bowen

Tuesday, May 14 - Bowen to Rockhampton

Wednesday, May 15 - Rockhampton to Bundaberg

Thursday, May 16 - Bundaberg to Toowoomba

Friday, May 17 - Toowoomba to Tamworth

Saturday, May 18 - Tamworth to Bathurst

Sunday, May 19 - Bathurst to Albury

Monday, May 20 - Albury to Mansfield

Tuesday, May 21 - Mansfield to Melbourne

Face For Charity

How good is this?

The Red Bull Formula One team raced with a unique livery for the British Grand Prix over the weekend.  The idea being that 25,000 fans would pay to get their faces applied to the both the cars while retaining the regular Red Bull paint scheme.

Whatever was raised Red Bull would match dollar for dollar with all funds going to their own charitable organisation - Wings For Life.

What is Wings For Life?

“One must never give up hope!” These were the words of Heinz Kinigadner when he was faced with his son’s diagnosis “paraplegia” diagnosis, after Hannes was involved in a crash during a charity motocross race.

Hannes Kinigadner had his accident in 2003, at the age of 19, and has been tetraplegic ever since. His fate is representative of approximately 3 million people worldwide who are paralyzed due to an injury to their spinal cord.

Deeply moved by the fate of his son, the two-time Motocross World Champion founded the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation in July 2004, together with his friend, Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

Inspired by existing successes in research, the ambitious aim of Wings for Life was defined as follows:

In order to realize this vision, Wings for Life supports and finances the most promising research projects worldwide aimed at healing the injured spinal cord. An international scientific advisory board, consisting of the world’s most renowned scientists and medical doctors from the relevant areas, helps Wings for Life to select the most promising research projects.

The world’s leading scientists agree that paraplegia, caused by a traumatic spinal cord injury, will be curable one day. For a major breakthrough in science to be achieved, a lot of research needs to be done. With focus, diligence and the absolute will to reach the aim, our foundation moves step by step towards our goal.

The great initiative for the British Grand Prix saw the team raise 1 million Euros while their fans went for a ride. 

Being a self confessed Formula One nut and a big fan of Mark Webber I couldn't resist the chance to get a ride on a Formula One car, and Webber came through and won the race.

Noot only was this brilliant that Webber won but a great way to help research into curing a disability that shouldn't be a disability.

Enjoy A Night Away

In November last year a number of businesses supported my Long Ride through a number of donations of cash or products & services, all very much appreciated.

With planning for the Long Ride 2013 underway one of the original supporters, the Mercure Hotel, Geelong, has come back on board.

The very generous Mercure Geelong,

no better place to stay.

Mercure Geelong is well positioned in the Geelong city centre within an easy walk to the Geelong waterfront, shopping areas and entertainment options. Located only a short drive from the Great Ocean Road and Avalon Airport, Mercure Geelong features 137 rooms with bay or city views, plus upgraded privilege rooms, apartments and suites, along with the delicious Zenith restaurant and bar, an outdoor swimming pool, a gymnasium and conference facilities for up to 400 guests.

The Mercure Geelong has very generously donated a room for one night, complete with a buffet breakfast the next morning.  What better way to start a ride down the Great Ocean Road or stay at the Mercure on your way home.

In coming months the stay at the Mercure Geelong will be used to generate funds for the Long Ride, stay tuned for how you could get your hands on it.

If you would like more information about the best place to stay in Geelong please visit Mercure Geelong