Jo Fisher prepares for the Amazon Heart Adventure motorbike ride from Sydney to Brisbane with other breast cancer survivors.
By Sarah Schwager
A CRANBOURNE woman is gearing up for a Harley Davidson ride across Australia to raise awareness about breast cancer.
Jo Fisher, along with 19 other breast cancer survivors from around Australia, will set out on an epic 1000-mile motorcycle ride from Sydney to Brisbane next month.
To get set for the adventure, Ms Fisher will be at the Cranbourne Motorcycle Riders Association (MRA) GP Run, sponsored by Star News Group, next weekend to help raise funds for the trip.
All money raised will go towards the Amazon Heart Peer Support Programs and Dragons Abreast Australia, an active dragon boat racing group for women with breast cancer.
Ms Fisher was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2002 at the age of 42.
Now 46, the Cranbourne mother of a son aged 22 and a 14-year-old daughter, Ms Fisher said the experience had given her a whole new perspective on life.
“I had never ridden a motorbike until 18 months ago,” she said. “Now I’m riding a Harley.”
Ms Fisher bought her own red Suzuki 250 early last year.
She is also a member of the Shearwaters chapter of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club whose motto is ‘Grow old disgracefully’.
The club for over 40s is famous for its annual toy runs in the south-east as well as its support of members.
Ms Fisher is not the first in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer – her older sister Lyn beat it 10 years ago while two of her cousins were also diagnosed with the disease.
Ms Fisher said she would dedicate her ride to her cousin Jenni who lost her fight with breast cancer in May last year.
“Until people like Kylie Minogue developed breast cancer it was seen as an older woman’s disease,” she said.
“I just really want to make people aware about the disease and that there is help out there.”
Ms Fisher said while organising a display at Cranbourne Centro Shopping Centre to promote the ride, she had women as young as their early 20s approach her who thought they might have the disease or who had friends their age who had breast cancer.
Sponsored by Harley Davidson – the company is donating the 20 new model motorbikes for the ride – the 20 women aim to raise awareness as well as money for women with breast cancer.
Raffle tickets will be available at the Cranbourne MRA GP Run on Saturday, 16 September.
First prize is a professional photo shoot for the winner and their bike and includes an enlarged print and a DVD of the photos.
Tickets are $2 each or six for $10 and the raffle will be drawn on 23 September at 4pm.
For more information or to donate, see the websites www.amazonheartthunder.org or www.dragonsabreast.com.au.
Nominate Jo Fisher when making a donation.
