Challenge South Australia — Day 1 Blog
19 March 2024
Written by: Mark "Sharky" Smoothy - Founder Smiling for Smiddy
Adelaide To McLaren Vale
Welcome to day one blog of the 2024 Smiddy Adelaide Challenge. The sixty riders are split up into two pelotons of thirty with front and back support vehicles for both groups. Team Red and Team Blue, and yes there is a small amount of friendly rivalry between the two groups. I have the distinct pleasure and honour to ride with both groups over the next five days. Krista's team Blue welcomed me into their peloton for todays 134 kilometre hilly stage from Adelaide to McLaren Vale, including nearly 2000 metres of climbing along some spectacular and scenic roads to die for. It was a pretty uneventful day for good reasons, not much traffic, no incidents within the pelotons and even the usual cheeky Smiddy banter was quieter. This all suited me quite well as I was utilizing a lot of my time on the bike today reflecting on what keeps the drive inside of me alive. Please excuse this little side step in this blog but I feel it's important.
Eighteen Years Passed
Who would have thought, some eighteen years have passed since the whole Smiddy journey began. If I'm honest, I never envisioned Smiddy going past year one, when in 2006 I set out with Ron Steel and Oliver Bodak on that first epic ride to Townsville. Adam had only passed away four weeks before we pushed off from the University of Qld. So to say that Adam was prominent in my mind would be a huge understatement. I truly felt Adam joined us on that first adventure, his spirit soared as he reveled in the craziness of riding 1500 kilometres in seven days. After that year he said, Smoothy, it's all yours mate, I'm not doing this again!
My old mate had his dream come true, riding from Brisbane to Townsville, right to his parents, Maria and David Smiddy's front door, and then the next day flew home to Brisbane. Just as he wanted! That year the three of us raised close on $26,000 for research and I was happy to rest on my laurels, feel proud of what we had achieved and just go back to my normal life.
A Second Year That Was Never Meant To Happen
But something happened, from the time we returned to Brisbane, friends of Adam approached me and asked would I do it again so that they could join in. You see they cared about their mate Adam, they were hurting inside just like Adam's family. So that year, 2007, of the twenty two riders who pushed off from Brisbane, half of them knew Adam. It was a powerful year, as each night a rider would speak to the group, and we would hear all the wonderful stories of who Adam truly was, the people who's lives he had touched in his short twenty six years on this earth. And let me assure you those stories painted the picture perfectly of the man those closest to him already knew. A true gentlemen, who would do anything for his family and friends and always super positive. It was as if Adam knew he was on borrowed time. He would walk into a room, beaming that big beautiful gorgeous smile of his and you would just feel proud, lucky, gifted to be his mate. That year, 2007, those twenty two amazing riders and our first road crew of eight, raised $196,000 for research.
The Third Year Shift
It was only in the third year, 2008, that the shift began to happen, fifty riders signed up, few knew Adam, but the word had spread, tough ride, 1600 kilometres over eight days, do something positive by helping those less fortunate who were battling cancer. Riders were now riding for Adam, but also for their own personal losses and stories. That shift was super important, as without it, the growth and power of Smiddy events would not have happened. That year, that incredible field of fifty riders and 14 road crew, raised a staggering amount of $480,000.
Present Day Hero's 2024
Which brings us to the people in this room tonight. That 2008 ride is why all you guys are here. Over the years, with 70+ Smiddy events now successfully and safely completed, hundreds upon hundreds, now in the thousands, of riders and triathletes, have all brought their own stories and reasons to complete one of our Smiddy events. Through your stories, your involvement, your passion, your generosity of time and spirit, you are responsible for not only raising in excess of $15 million dollars for research for the Mater, but you have ultimately helped to save lives. You inspire your family, friends and work colleagues. I like to sit in the background these days and just admire and be proud of what a small Band of Brothers created in a very short space of time.
Seeing you guys in blue peloton out there today working together, while knowing team red were also doing the same, with road crew doing the hard yards behind the scenes, the future of Smiddy events is strong thanks to your involvment. Adam, I know, is beaming that smile of his and giving you all his nod of approval, just as the great man, David Smiddy does year after year.
You Are My Adam
If I May? I'd like to finish this blog buy offering you the highest form of compliment you will ever hear from me. Adam touched my heart so dearly that I thought that no other could be like him. But boy was I wrong. There is a bit of Adam in each and every person, not only sitting in this room, but from every event we have ever held. You all care and I thank you for that!
Sharky
