Aspley Teen in Ride For Life

A 15-year-old school boy from Aspley who is vision impaired has been praised by one of Australia’s cycling greats for completing a grueling 86 km charity ride on his first major outing in the saddle.

Connor Perring was part of a team of 10 riders from Guide Dogs Queensland containing blind or vision impaired cyclists who met Robbie McEwen after finishing Sunday’s ‘Ride for Life Challenge’.  (See picture below)

The 39-year-old triple Tour de France green jersey winner and 12-time stage winner applauded the group for taking part in the event which was organised by Brisbane BMW and Westside BMW.

Around 1,000 entrants cycled through the streets of Brisbane and surrounding suburbs to help raise much needed funds for Guide Dogs Queensland, Variety Queensland and the NexGen Foundation.

Connor and the other participants with low or no vision rode in tandem with sighted cyclists around the course, which started in Fortitude Valley and went as far-a-field as Cleveland Point and back.

Connor was born with an inherited eye condition and this event was his first major group ride along with fellow GDQ client and UQ student Jefferson Mac.

The group also contained three keen road cyclists who are blind or vision impaired, including Paralympian Ben MacFie who won a bronze medal at the Paralympic Cycling World Cup in 2007.

All were excited to meet McEwen, still regarded as one of the world’s fastest road sprinters. The Brisbane-born “pocket rocket” recently took out the French-Belgian Tour de Wallonie-Picard.

But the international cycling champion said he was equally thrilled to meet the GDQ team.

“I’ve had many well-documented challenges over the course of my sporting career but all pale in comparison to those faced by these individuals on a daily basis,” he said. “They are remarkable.

“I am delighted the group came together to support the ‘Ride for Life Challenge’ which will aid an organisation dear to them and thousands of other Queenslanders and their families.”

Guide Dogs Queensland CEO Chris Laine said she is extremely grateful for the $13,000 the organisation received from the event.

“This past year has been one of the most difficult for fundraising in recent memory,” she said.

“Events like this help bridge the funding gap and we are extremely grateful to Robbie; the team at Brisbane BMW and Westside BMW; and all the participants in the ‘Ride for Life Challenge’.

“We urge Queenslanders to support the efforts of our riders by making a donation online at our Everyday Hero Fundraising page. The Ride for Life appeal will be in operation for another two weeks.” 

To see the Channel SEVEN interview with Robbie McEwen and Connor Perring go to our Facebook page.

Below: Relaxing after the ride, Connor Perring is pictured holding the tandem bike handle with Robbie McEwen to the right.