June 2019
As they do year after dedicated year, our Remembrance Bike Riders assembled on a chilly Friday morning by the Police Wall of Remembrance, ready to make the 3-day, 300km trek to Canberra. In the pre-dawn darkness however, two of our most courageous riders were to be found in the support vehicle, with a pillow or two more than their fellow cyclists.
For the second year in a row, Jack and Ben Goodwin (13 and 11 years old) were making the ride, in memory of their father Snr Cst Daniel Goodwin, who died in 2014. Driving the support vehicle was their mother Sgt Marieka Goodwin, and in the throng of cyclists getting ready to roll was Sgt Darren Wilkins, their stepfather.
The two boys have been Police Legatees for five years now, and when Darren started to get interested in cycling in 2017, and then decided to join the Remembrance Bike Ride, it seemed only natural to them to join in to support a cause that was close to their hearts.
As they did last year, the two boys loved being on the ride, hearing stories about their Dad from former colleagues, and being truly included in the camaraderie. They accompanied the riders in the support vehicle for the first two days, and on the final day had their moment to shine, riding the last 20kms to the National Police Wall of Remembrance.
They are an inspiration to us all, and we are so proud to have them involved in such an important event.
Our riders have raised more than $90,000 for our police family so far, but fundraising is still open if you want to help them reach the century!
