The second edition of the Goldfields Outback 2 Ocean Ride aims to double the number of riders and continue to raise funds for WA Police Legacy.
Co-ordinator Grant George told the Kalgoorlie Miner a committee had now been created to ensure sponsorships and fundraisers were well organised.
The ride will start at Kalgoorlie Police Station on February 29 at 7pm, with the riders scheduled to roll into Esperance on March 1.
“It’s exciting, it’s about flying the flag on what this fantastic neck of the woods has to offer and we’ve still got a lot of interest from Perth and outside different areas,” Mr George said.
He said the inaugural ride comprised 14 riders, which included seven police officers and the rest were from various parts of the community, and raised $40,000 for WA Police Legacy.
Mr George said the committee on board were the “right people” to ensure the ride was “bigger, better and safer”.
Deputy co-ordinator and secretary Ewan Edwards said the fundraising events would be more planned and the committee wanted to bring bigger companies on board, with a car wash and trivia night still on the calendar.
“(Also) fundraising events that incorporate everybody, we’re going to maybe have a kids’ bicycle race, a corporate event and a fancy dress if we can do that,” he said.
“One of the bigger advantages I think at the moment is we’ve got the sponsorship prospectus, which we didn’t have last year as well. So that basically outlines absolutely everything, catering for bigger companies and getting their involvement.”
Mr Edwards said they wanted the ride to eventually be included in the top 20 bicycle rides in Australia so it would become an “unmissable” event.
Treasurer Abbey Hay said the committee was looking to bring people from outside Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Goldfields, along with people who were not police officers.
She said the ride was also to start two hours earlier to try to beat traffic coming into Esperance.
“The night ride was a really hot topic and everyone really enjoyed the difference of that, it also beat some of the heat that we’re still getting in March,” Ms Hay said.