Cycling Without Age started in Denmark in 2012 when Ole Kassow decided he wanted to help get elderly people back out in the community, no matter their mobility. Now you’ll find Cycling Without Age in 42 countries around the world, including groups here in the Hunter and Port Stephens.
NovaCare funds the program in the Hunter and Port Stephens, keeping nine trishaws operating with 23 registered volunteers. The trishaw is a three-wheeled bike with a seat on the front that provides free rides along well established routes in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
Andy has been volunteering for the program through NovaCare for the last seven years after retiring from the NSW Police Force and moving to the Hunter with his wife to be close to their children.
“I saw an ad on NBN News one day and I thought it looked great. I needed to keep busy after retiring so I jumped at it.
“It’s a great feeling for me, because just to see people with smiles on their faces during the ride is huge. If someone has a disability and can’t walk at all, this gives them the opportunity to have the wind in their hair.
“I always finish the ride with a smile on my face too, sometimes I don’t know who gets more out of the ride, me or the person who jumps on!”
Andy had countless stories of memorable rides he’d had with people from a husband who had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and his wife brought him along for a ride, to people who don’t have the ability to walk, to elderly people who wouldn’t normally get out of the house.
“One funny story was two elderly ladies one day. We had one on each bike and we got to the lighthouse at Nobby’s and could see the waves crashing over the break wall. One of the ladies balked and said no way, while the other, who was 93-years-old mind you, wanted me to go so we did and she had the best time.
“Obviously we don’t come out when it’s really hectic, we stay safe!
“There was a lady the other day who came up to me and was almost in tears telling me how great she thought what we were doing was,” Andy said.
CEO of NovaCare Joseph McCarthy said they saw the program overseas, took the idea to the NovaCare Community Services board and they jumped at it.
“We really love seeing older people being visible in our community and enjoying it.
“As a Hunter-based charity, we love that at NovaCare we can give that back to our wider community. We cover the cost of maintaining the bikes, clothing, everything our volunteers need. Without volunteers we don’t have a program, and they say without NovaCare they wouldn’t have a program either,” Joseph said.
| You can head along to a Community Ride Day or book a ride directly. For more information head to: cyclingwithoutagehunter.com.au/ To find Cycling Without Age near you: cyclingwithoutage.org.au/where-we-operate/ |
