OPTUS CALLS ON TOWNSVILLE COMMUNITY TO RING IN THE RIDERS

The Optus Community Bicycle Bell Orchestra gets set to welcome the Tour de Cure riders

On Friday, 11 May 2012, between 1-3pm, a group of 62 riders will be cycling into Townsville’s iconic Flinders Square, completing the ninth stage of the gruelling 11 day, 1,656km Tour de Cure signature annual cycling tour. To welcome the riders and show its support, Optus is calling on local residents to come along to Flinders Square and take part in the Optus Community Bicycle Bell Orchestra.

As a proud platinum sponsor of the Tour de Cure – a cycling foundation dedicated to raising funds for the fight against cancer – Optus, along with the local Townsville and surrounding communities, will be “ringing in the riders” with a specially arranged bicycle bell orchestra. Local residents are encouraged to come along, pick up a bicycle bell from Optus and join in the performance. The Optus Community Bicycle Bell Orchestra, bringing together the musicians and community, will welcome the riders as they arrive, conducted in a chorus of bicycle bell celebration, all in the name of raising funds for cancer research.

Sam Kennedy, Head of Queensland and Northern Territory, Optus, said, “We want to show our support to the riders after a gruelling ninth leg of the 11 day tour. We’re encouraging the whole community to get involved, come along to Flinders Square on May 11 and join us in welcoming these extraordinary riders.”

Lyndall Penaluna of The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James, Townsville, and official conductor of the Optus Community Bicycle Bell Orchestra said, “I can’t think of a better way to welcome the Tour de Cure riders into Townsville than with a community orchestral celebration of bicycle bells. Conducting the orchestra, along with the community providing the percussion, is something I can’t wait to take part in, and the fact that it is all in the name of helping to raise money for cancer research is fantastic.”

This year the Tour de Cure departed on Thursday, 3 May 2012 from Brisbane and is travelling to Mission Beach, arriving Sunday, 13 May 2012. The riders taking part in this year’s Tour de Cure are aiming to raise $2 million. In 2011 the Optus Tour de Cure team raised over $250,000 and they are determined to raise in excess of that amount this year, having the largest contingent of riders in the tour with a team of six.

“We all know friends, family or colleagues who have experienced, or are experiencing cancer, and it is vital that we all help support them in whatever way we can,” Ms. Kennedy added.

Geoff Coombes, Co-Founder of the Tour de Cure, added, “Ringing in the riders with Optus in Townsville is a fantastic way to mark the completion of the ninth stage of our annual Signature Tour. After a hard day’s ride, the welcoming sounds of the Optus Community Bicycle Bell Orchestra are sure to bring a smile to our team’s faces as they cross the finish line at Townsville.”

For more information visit www.tourdecure.com.au.

Media contacts:
Dianne Edwards
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: 02 8082 7850