Albany’s Nathan Small to ride 466km to beach where he spread his dad’s ashes to raise money for cancer fight

Nathan Small and Ben Lord were brought together through the loss of a parent to cancer.

Now stepbrothers and close friends, the pair will ride for more than 23 hours and cover 466km to honour their late parents and raise funds for cancer research.

Mr Small lost his father, Steve, a popular member of the Albany community and local school teacher, to cancer in May 2012.

Steve’s death came just three months after Mr Small got married.

The next year, Mr Lord lost his mother, Bernadette, after a brave battle against the same disease.

After the heartache of losing their partners, Mr Small’s mother Jennie and Mr Lord’s father Ted met and eventually married.

Next week, the stepbrothers will set off on a gruelling two-day bike ride they are calling the Pinjarra to Point.

They will set off from Pinjarra at the site where Bernadette’s ashes rest, finishing at Emu Point on the sand where Steve’s ashes were spread.

Mr Lord came up with the idea to raise funds for cancer research through the 2020 MACA Cancer 200 Challenge in support of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.

Mr Small, 30, said he jumped at the chance.

“Dad is the big reason why I’m doing it,” Mr Small said.

“He has been the inspiration for most of the stuff I’ve done in my life, including becoming a sports teacher like he was.

“Ben was really close with his mum and she sounded like a legend — a lot like my Dad — so we both want to make the best thing out of a bad situation.”

The pair have set a fundraising goal of $10,000.

They will start their ride on October 17, stopping over in Katanning before finishing the next day.

“The first day is 250km and then it’s 200km on day two,” Mr Small said.

“Dad wanted his ashes spread at Emu Point and that’s where we will finish.

“Every time we go there for a swim with the kids, he’s there. It was one of his favourite spots.”

To donate, visit bit.ly/3iq0Zpu.