‘Smiling for Smiddy’: Ride In Memory of Adam Smiddy a Success

It’s been 10 years since the park located in the heart of Milton’s Park Road precinct was renamed in honour of Adam Smiddy’s memory. Celebrating this milestone, a group of riders embarked on a river loop ride from the Adam Smiddy Park on 14 March 2019.

Adam Smiddy, a talented triathlete and respected physiotherapist, died from an aggressive melanoma in 2006. It was one of his unrealised dreams to go on a ride from Brisbane to his hometown in Home Hill.

The late Adam Smiddy (Photo credit: Smiling for Smiddy/Facebook)

Fulfilling this dream, his triathlon coach Mark Smoothy and two other mates Ron Steel and Oliver Bodak ventured into a 1,600-km bike from Brisbane to Home Hill ride six weeks after Smiddy’s passing. They successfully raised $24,000 for cancer research in the process.

Little did they know that this humble ride in memory of a mate will grow into a wonderful series of cycling, swim and triathlon challenges that will raise funds to support cancer research at Mater Hospital.

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Over the past 12 years, ‘Smiling for Smiddy’ participants and supporters have raised more than $9 million for cancer research. The goal is to help raise additional $1,000,000 in 2019.

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The recent bike ride concluded at Savoir Faire, opposite the Adam Smiddy park, for breakfast compliments of La Dolce Vita. The breakfast was 100 percent donated free of charge by the cafe to show their support for the event.

Left to right: Roberto Semsara, Nigel Harris, Lesley Ray, David Smiddy, Peter Smith (Photo credit: Smiling for Smiddy/Facebook)

Adam’s dad David Smiddy joined the event, along with Mark Smooty and Rowan Foster as well as Mater Foundation CEO Nigel Harris and Mater Foundation Executive Director of Philanthropy Lesley Ray.

Peter Smith, chair of Savoir Faire, announced that the weekly Wednesday Smiddy river loop riders’ refreshment purchases at La Dolce Vita would be matched and donated back to Mater Smiling for Smiddy.

The Team Smiddy is currently enlisting nine riders for the Reverse Bottlemart Smiddy Challenge on 23-31 August 2019, which will start in Tamworth and will conclude in Brisbane.

The goal of the next bike ride is to raise $5,000 for cancer research. If you’re up for this big challenge, get further information or register at the Smiddy website.