24 hour pedal challenge for Albany Community Hospice

Could you ride a stationary bike non-stop for 24 hours?

That is the gruelling challenge presented by the Albany Community Hospice Spinathon fundraiser next week.

Stationary bikes will be brought to Haz Beanz at the Albany Waterfront Marina, where people will pedal through the night and into Valentine’s Day o raise money for palliative care in Albany.

And if you think a few hours is more your style, you can still get into the spirit as part of a team.

Albany Community Hospice fundraising committee chair-woman Jeanann Barbour said it was a tough challenge for an important cause.

“You can book a bike for a person or a team for however many hours during that time,” she said.

“Anyone can join — you don’t have to have a bike because we get spinners lent to us from a gym.”

City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington will open the event, getting on a bike for a City team.

Ms Barbour said fundraisers such as the Spinathon went a long way to helping people in end-of-life care.

“It means we’re not reliant on the government for funding,” she said.

“It costs about $1200 a day to keep a patient in there ... we fundraise so that nobody pays to go to hospice.”

Last year’s Spinathon raised $12,000 for the hospice.

The event is set to start at noon on Saturday, February 13.