Finn, Thom & Jackson post ride

Saints’ third annual Ride for Rosies charity event was held on the 31st of May. 

This year our sister school, St. Monica’s College, was invited to participate.  65 students rode around the Smith Park Velodrome to raise funds and awareness for Rosies.

Rosies is a QLD service organisation that “reaches out to those most in need, people who are homeless or at risk, lonely, and socially isolated within our communities” (rosies.org.au). 

Students began their journey 4 weeks earlier by gaining pledged support from sponsors in the community. Sponsors could support their rider per lap or in bulk.

 On the day, 3,989 laps (1595+ km) were ridden by the students.  This year, students were able to significantly best their last year’s total ($9600) and raise over $23,000 for Rosies. 

Our goal for Ride for Rosie’s 2024 was to raise $10,000 for Rosie’s: Friends on the Street. The riders were grouped into two groups: a road biking group, and a mountain biking group, each riding an hour to raise money for a great cause. I enjoyed riding with my fellow students to try and get as many laps as we could to raise as much money as possible.  A small group of us managed to achieve 98 laps in an hour (1 lap = 400m) each by working together. I look forward to next year to work towards a goal of 100 laps.  

– Jackson (Year 9, Saints) 

Giving back to the community of Cairns through supporting those who are disconnected significantly motivated me to ride. The Ride for Rosies has a variety of students of all ages, year levels, and abilities banding together to reach the common goal of bettering the lives of others. Pushing myself feels different during the R4R than any other event I have participated in. It is no longer for personal benefit or a trophy but for the benefit of strangers in the Cairns community. When the last 15 minutes are announced on the loudspeaker the whole feeling of the ride changes, and everyone pushes themselves to the max. leaving nothing left in the tank. 

– Niamh (Year 10, St. Monica’s) 

St. Augustine’s and St. Monica’s colleges wish to express gratitude to the participants, parents who provided support and volunteered, to sponsors who gave generously, to the community who attended and cheered the students on, and the Cairns Cycling Club for the highly successful second Ride for Rosies.  

The Rosies Cairns Team was absolutely overwhelmed with the success of this year’s ride and was delighted to work with these schools again this year. The Saints and St Monica’s school community are incredibly generous and provide outstanding care and connection for our patrons on outreach.