In 2011 three Inverell motorbike enthusiasts met to discuss participating in the second annual Scrapheap Adventure Ride (SAR), supporting the Down Syndrome Association of NSW (DSANSW).
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The trio were faced with the challenge of finding a motorbike for less than a $1000, getting it on the road, and riding it to Cameron Corner.
From that modest beginning, Team Inverell was formed, $6500 was raised, and the three intrepid riders departed home, on a wing and a prayer, and rode over 3500km's to Cameron Corner, (the long way round) over some of NSW's roughest roads on motorbikes with dubious suitability and reliability.
After that first event, it was decided that Team Inverell was there to stay, and would return with a plan to participate each year with an annual fundraising target of $10,000.
Since then, the three riders, Mick Obrien, Col Meacham and Phil Kimber have ridden tens of thousands of kilometres in support of DSANSW and this year sees them participating in their ninth consecutive SAR.
Over the years, many other riders and support crew have joined, with four riders in 2012, going up to twelve riders and six support crew for 2019.
Together with the encouragement and assistance of many, the annual target has been exceeded or has gone close each year, and if it can be reached this year: it will make a total of $100,000 raised in nine years.
This would make Team Inverell the first to achieve this amount. With just under a month to go, there are numerous ways to support the Team so they can reach the $100,000.
Local residents can make a small donation in cash or kind no matter how small, visit the SAR website to make an on line donation, buy a raffle ticket or, simply share the information around so others are able to offer their support.
All money raised goes direct to DSANSW with all individual and Team expenses coming from members own pockets.
The trio encouraged local to "do your bit", and assist Down Syndrome NSW to champion the rights of people with Down Syndrome to have the same access to society as everyone else.
Team Inverell will depart on October 2 for a three day ride to Evans Head for the 2019 SAR returning on Sunday, October 9.