A dedicated group of 27 fire and emergency services personnel have been welcomed home following an amazing 725km cycle from Gladstone to Brisbane.
These incredible riders, and their dedicated support crew volunteered their time to complete this mammoth cycle, to raise funds to support researchers on their quest to find less painful, and more effective treatments for childhood burns and scar management.
Now in its 16th year, Bike 4 Burns riders and sponsors have raised over $840,000 to help find the best possible treatment for burn injuries. This year they have again pushed themselves through seven gruelling days of cycling from 6 – 12 September 2022, with the knowledge that whilst their challenge will soon be over, kids suffering from burns have a long, and painful road to travel.
Kids like seven-year-old Charlie Burgess who sustained full thickness burns to 38 per cent of his body after he accidently pulled a deep fryer off the kitchen bench in 2015, covering himself in hot oil. Charlie spent a total of 39 days at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and underwent 11 operations for skin grafting and dressing changes and will need ongoing treatments for many years to come to manage his scarring as he grows.
Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO, Lyndsey Rice said: “We are so grateful for the steadfast commitment shown by the Bike 4 Burns riders and volunteers. Holding this event for the past 16 years shows their determination to make a difference for kids with burn injuries. Through their efforts the Children’s Hospital Foundation has been able to fund a ground-breaking laser which Queensland kids are benefitting from. Last year, the Queensland Children’s Hospital treated more than 1,743 children for burns injuries.”
Funds raised will support research to develop better methods for treating burns including reducing recovery time, scarring and pain as well as implementing burns prevention campaigns.
The difference that shapes their world
Through supporting the Children’s Hospital Foundation, you can improve childhoods and ensure all children and young people have access to treatment - sooner.
