Humanitix cycles 700km for MS in annual charity bike ride

To kick off November, 9 riders from Humanitix & friends participated in the MS Sydney to Gong ride and fundraised for multiple sclerosis, while challenging themselves physically and mentally.

Our Frontend Developer Pierre, who is a keen cyclist, corralled the team to put the pedal to the metal. Pierre had already participated in Sydney Gong 3 times previously, and last year he managed to round up a team, only to be rained out on the day. Never fear, 2024 was our year!

Between everyone, the team cycled for over 700km, and managed to raise $1,386 for MS. We sat down with Pierre, the squad leader, as well as Nick, one of the Humanitix riders who participated (and our top fundraiser!), to get their insights on how it all went down.

What is the MS Sydney to Gong ride?

Pierre: The MS Sydney to Gong ride is an annual charity bike ride that spans 82 km from Sydney to Wollongong. It’s a beautiful scenic route that winds along the coastline and through the Royal National Park, with a few hills thrown in to keep it interesting! It’s all about raising funds and awareness for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Why did you decide to take on this challenge and get the wider Humanitix team involved?

Pierre: The team loves a good fitness challenge (from the Push-Up Challenge, to daily planks, to running...), so I thought it would be a great way to bring our team together once again, and for a good cause. Rallying the Humanitix team meant we could make an even bigger contribution to the MS community, and it ended up being a great bonding experience.

Speaking of big contributions, this year's medal goes to Nick, who pushed the fundraising part on his socials announcing he would do the ride in a bikini if he raised $1000, and he did! (That explains his outfit.)

Nick: I hadn’t committed to a hard challenge for myself in a while and Pierre asked me on a YES day.

Why is fundraising for MS important?

Pierre: Multiple sclerosis is a tough disease that affects people in really unpredictable ways, and there’s no cure yet. By fundraising, we can support research to help find better treatments, and hopefully a cure one day. Plus, it also helps provide services for people currently living with MS, so they can get the support they need to keep going strong.

Nick: I don’t personally know anyone affected by MS but have seen friends and family fundraise in the past and learned enough to know it is underfunded and an important cause.

How did it go?

Pierre: It was such a rewarding experience! We were all feeling a bit sore and exhausted by the end, but there was this great energy in finishing together and knowing we’d made a difference. We got through it as a team, cheered each other on, and it definitely brought us closer.

Nick: It was way harder than I thought as I did 0 training but a good mental challenge to fight off some demons on the uphills.

What was the hardest part of the ride?

Pierre: The uphill to Stanwell Park! There were a few steep climbs along the way that really tested our stamina. You’re pedalling, legs are burning, but then you look around, and everyone’s right there with you, pushing through. That part was definitely tough but also pretty motivating.

Nick: The big climb just passed the 50% mark, ends in a 12% climb and I thought my quads were going to explode.

What was a memorable moment?

Pierre: One of the best moments had to be when we were down at the bottom of the Royal National Park. We were already feeling the strain, and knowing that the only way out was a long uphill climb didn’t help. Some of the team were starting to lose motivation—until they found out there was a sausage sizzle waiting at the rest stop! That gave everyone a sudden burst of energy, and we tackled those hills with renewed excitement. It was hilarious and definitely memorable.

Nick: The highlight for me was 100% seeing Shak finish after having the worst bike possible for the ride and the beer at the end! Shak, one of our software engineers, rocked up to the ride with a heavy mountain bike which made things so much harder for him. He almost gave up, but with the team motivating him and his physical and mental strength, he was able to push through and finish the ride with the rest of us!

Would you do it again?

Pierre: Not my first, not my last! The ride is challenging, but knowing we were riding for a cause bigger than ourselves made it all worth it. I might have made it sound easier than it actually was when rallying the team, to get more to tag along, but now that they've discovered it, I'm sure they would be keen on doing it again. Some were even talking about getting back into cycling a bit, and upgrading their gear.

Nick: I’d definitely do it again, loved the challenge and raising that much money for an amazing cause.

Well done team, you're a tour de force to be reckoned with! 🚴🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️