Riding On Report Summer 2025

I do consider myself a very lucky person at the moment. I have just spent the best part of October and November riding five days along the Victorian and NSW Alpine roads and then spending 22 days in Tasmania testing out their roads. As a Western Australian we don’t actually have bends or mountains, so it is always a thrill to ride in the east. (Last time I was in Tassie was for the 2016 AGM). TedE the UCARF dog enjoyed the ride, being photographed whenever we stopped. During the trip I did start to feel aches and pains as I suffer from sciatica and a bit of arthritis but normally by the start of each day, I was on the bike ready to go. That did make me think about those who suffer from the pain of debilitating symptoms such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, spending their days in constant pain and missing out on or struggling to participate in the things they loved to do and enjoying life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a nasty chronic autoimmune disease that uses our immune system, which normally protects our body from infection and disease, to attack our own tissues. As with most diseases, cures only come with years of research and the Ulysses Club has been proudly part of that research for many years. As a continuation of that support, it is fantastic to announce that finally, after a lot of hard work by the National Committee, Monash University together with the University of Sydney and University of Queensland will each receive yearly grants for their research laboratories to help support the salary costs of their selected PhD student. This will be a four-year commitment with the three research programs – a total of $62000 each year. You may like to read about Bailey Slyp, our first PhD scholarship recipient for Monash on our Ulysses website in Members Documents – General or go to https://bit.ly/RecipientBailey .

The inaugural UCARF Ride for Rheumatoid Arthritis Research being organised by Rob Hunt looks like achieving a great outcome, which is fantastic. I have spoken to Rob and have organised funding to produce special UCARF Inaugural Ride Patches and Stickers for participants. Limited number so on a ‘first come first get’ basis. More to come on this in the New Year.

Thanks to the Admin staff for updating and sending me the UCARF Donations Running Tally for September, October and November: –

Fraser Coast Branch, Ulysses RV Group, Geelong Branch, Northern Beaches Branch, Macedon Ranges, Canberra Branch and Warwick Branch.

We received quite a few individual donations over these months and I wonder if it is due to Cash for Cans? A big thanks for those using this for fund-raising.

Donations from Mike Abberfield, Paul Margereson, Adrian Chin, Alan Bateman, Peter Richardson, Laurent Schurrle, John Osborne, Kim Allchin, Alan Reece, Peter R and Deni.

Donations for this period totalled a whopping $8305. Thanks to all those Branches and Individuals.

Like I said, I am a lucky person. Having just got home from Tasmania, TedE and I are busy planning our next adventure, where to, the Armidale National Rally of course!

Ken and TedE
UCARF Coordinator,
#51189 DM #67