The fundraising goal was $50,000, but that target was smashed at the third annual Cycle for Cancer. 

More than 170 riders raised more than $80,000 for the Cancer Council. 

The Cycle for Cancer was held in Fitzroy Falls on May 14 and was a five-hour non-competitive mountain bike challenge.

Obstacles, jumps and bridges were set up throughout an 8km course. The course was designed to challenge riders and show off the stunning scenery of the Southern Highlands. 

Several members of the Southern Highlands Cycling Club helped to organise the event, including club president Zac Hulm. 

“This was not a one-person event,” Hulm said. 

“A lot of people helped with the planning and organising. We built bridges and cut down trees to pull the track together.”

Hulm organised the inaugural ride in 2015, and since then it has become an annual event. 

The ride has been built into curriculum at Scott’s College and a number of their students took part in mountain bike challenge.

Scott’s College student Henry Lewis Thorpe raised the largest sum for the event, with his fundraising reaching $16,130. 

Hulm said he wanted to see more schools involved in future rides. 

“We want to encourage more schools to get involved,” he said. 

“The goal is to make this a school event, with that we can also raise a lot more money too.”

The event is so important to Hulm as he fought cancer in his teenage years. 

On September 4, 1996 Hulm was told he had Leukemia.

As a result of the subsequent chemotherapy treatment he suffered a severe brain injury.

Hulm said that the funds raised would help a lot of people in need. 

“The goal is to keep raising more for the Cancer Council, it looks like we will reach $100,000 this year and I want to increase on that again for next year.”

Donations for the 2017 Cycle for Cancer will be accepted until Friday, May 19. 

Visit https://everydayhero.com.au/event/cycleforcancer2017 to donate.