Cyclists On An Adventure4Dementia

Two cyclists passed through Mackay last week on a week-long endeavour from Brisbane to Cairns raising funds for dementia research in honour of their good mate Al ‘Midget’ Forsyth.

The Adventure4Dementia team of Matt Collard and Heather Roberts, along with support crew Cody Dennis, Max Padovan and Merv Collard, left Brisbane on Friday June 3, passing through Mackay the following Monday and arriving in Cairns last weekend.

Not content with that effort, Matt went on to compete in the Cairns Airport IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship last Sunday.

Their mate Al Forsyth is an ex-serviceman who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in 2011.

Mr Collard said his friendship with Al started back in 2006 and the pair get along like a house on fire.

“Al’s done a lot for me over the years, a hell of a lot,” said Mr Collard.

In 2018, while Al still had early-onset dementia, the group took him on the Kokoda track.

Since then, they’ve been on a bike ride from Brisbane to Birdsville and now from Brisbane to Cairns, aiming to go on more adventures, get more people involved and raise more money.

“This started off as a shits and giggles between a few mates and we turned it into something that is an ongoing thing for dementia research,” said Mr Collard.

“I took on that mentality of what (Al) had, I suppose, which was always aspire to be better,”

Since 2018, Al’s condition has worsened.

“He couldn’t do his own shoes, he couldn’t go to the toilet, he couldn’t do all that sort of stuff,” Mr Collard said.

“It was very disheartening.”

Now in its third year, Adventure4Dementia is aiming to raise $50,000 dollars for dementia research at Queensland Brain Institute’s (QBI) Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research.

“The guys at QBI do a fantastic job, what they do is mind-blowing,” said Mr Collard.

“If the money that we raise can help a family out to prolong the life and response of their loved ones, then we’ve achieved what we’ve set out to do.”

On day four, before making it into Mackay, Matt started to experience a leg twinge.

Rather than risk further injury, he travelled to Mackay where he made up the distance lost in the pool at Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex (ARC) while Heather completed the day four leg on the bike.

Support crewmember Cody Dennis says the team at ARC provided Mr Collard with a free lane and an air-conditioned room for the afternoon.

“Big thanks to the Mackay Aquatic Centre for helping us out at such short notice,” Mr Dennis said.

“Within two minutes they had it all squared away, they did a real good job and that saved us for the day.”

Other supporters of the journey include Tait Auto Group, Appoint, LSKD and BSF Mobile Cranes.

“There’s a lot of teamwork that goes into it and that’s what Al was about,” said Mr Collard.

“He never put anyone down.”

Support the Adventure4Dementia team by donating to its JustGiving page - www.justgiving.com/campaign/Adventure4Dementia - or visit www.qbi.uq.edu.au to help brain research at QBI.

“Whether you’ve put a dollar in, whether you’ve put $1,000 in or whether you’ve put ten grand in, it goes a long way,” said Mr Collard.

Cyclists Matt Collard and Heather Roberts with support crew Max Padovan, Cody Dennis and Merv Collard at Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Centre before making their way to the Calen Hotel for dinner. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

The Adventure4Dementia team are raising funds for good mate ‘Midget’ who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in 2011. Photo: supplied

Heather Roberts arrived at the ARC completing the day 4 bike leg before joining Matt for a swim

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