Physical and mental toughness will be put to the test when the fourth annual Sunshine Ride is held on the Border on March 15 and 16.

More than 20 exercise bikes will be stationed at Adrenaline Boxing and Conditioning for the 24-hour challenge, held each year in support of the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund.

Other gyms, sporting clubs, schools and businesses are also expected to get involved including PT Fitness in Wodonga, Albury Thunder Rugby League Club, Albury Wodonga Cycling Club and Planet Fitness in Wagga.

Organiser Steve Ballard, a member of Adrenaline Boxing and Conditioning, has been amazed by the growth of the event which last year raised more than $113,000.

“The idea for the Sunshine Ride came after I was chatting to a young fella out the front of the gym and we said we’d try to raise $1000 for a 24-hour ride,” he said.

“But when we put it out to the rest of the Adrenaline community, we ended up having about 58 riders who raised over $36,000 in our first year.

“We had well over 200 riders last year, so to come to that in three years is pretty amazing.”

Mr Ballard said he initially wanted to host a fundraiser after his wife, Debbie, was treated for breast cancer in 2018.

“I probably took a lot of things for advantage and I don’t think I even realised the cancer centre was here until we needed it,” he said.

“There are so many people that have been touched by cancer in one way or another, so it keeps us motivated so we can keep this ride going so we can keep cancer patients closer to home when they go through their treatment.”

Albury Deputy Mayor and well-known entertainer, Steve Bowen, will join sports commentator, Robbie Mackinlay, and musician, Danny Phegan, as Ambassadors this year.

Mr Bowen got his first taste of the Sunshine Ride when he completed a one-hour stint on the local celebrity bike stationed in front of Guru’s Cafeteria in Albury’s main street last year.

He admits he hasn’t been on a bike since.

“It was good, but I’m still sore,” Mr Bowen said.

“It’s a great cause to be ihttp://www.sunshineride.org.aunvolved with, and I love getting behind great causes, so I’m happy to do it all again this year.”

To register or find out more about the Sunshine Ride, click here