ALTONA Hockey Club members have thrown their support behind two players taking part in the Ride to Conquer Cancer.In October Aaron Anstis and Josh Coote will both take part in the annual event to raise funds for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC).
The Altona Hockey Club has already raised more than $2000 for the charity ride.
Aaron’s father suffered from Multiple myeloma, a cancer which starts in the plasma cells in bone marrow. He was a patient at the PMCC before he died six years ago, at the age of 49.
I can’t really put into words my feelings for what Peter Mac does for its patients and families,” Aaron said.
“Dad’s cancer was incurable, but at no stage did Peter Mac ever stop the fight.”
Aaron said cancer robbed his father of the chance to see his three grandchildren born.
Aaron has six relatives and friends joining him on the Ride to Conquer Cancer and together they have raised more than $20,000 for the PMCC.
Josh said the biggest challenge he would face on Ride to Conquer Cancer would be cycling 100km every day.
He will be riding with a group of people from his workplace, Telstra Super, after their fellow employee Matt lost his wife Kylie to cancer.
“Sadly Kylie passed away a month or so ago, and when I hear how highly Matt speaks about the hospital it really drives home how great an organisation it is,” Josh said.
“Cancer affects so many people and if we can raise some money to help make a difference in these people’s lives and perhaps one day find a cure, I don’t think anyone cannot support the effort that is going in to raise money for this cause.”