Tour de Frog 2016

SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2016

Join us for a weekend in the Hunter Valley to raise funds for Kiss the Frog Foundation with the main aim being support of Joshua Clift.

A number of Josh’s close friends socially cycle. We wanted to come up with a way of supporting him that could become a platform to help others. Naturally a charity cycling event was talked about and over a four-year period of discussions, weekly social rides and three planned yearly trials, we are excited to announce that the Kiss the Frog Foundation will hold its inaugural Tour de Frog event in the Hunter Valley on Saturday 22 October 2016.

All funds raised will be used to support Joshua with the medical rehabilitation, equipment and services that are integral to achieving a successful recovery and creating long-term independence after his spinal injuries.

Fundraising activities will include a 100km and 32km bike ride through the picturesque Hunter Valley, a golf tournament at Cypress Lakes and then we’ll all get together for an after party at the Goldfish Bowl at Roche Estate.

It costs roughly $250,000 annually to be a quadriplegic after suffering a cervical spinal injury – in funding the daily expenses of medical, living and care requirements.

Josh will be purchasing a vehicle that can be driven from his wheelchair to provide him with day-to-day independence. However, it will cost $200,000 with $118,000 needing to be spent just to modify the vehicle. This is the 2016 event’s primary objective, in an effort to assist Josh in gaining independence and hopefully leading to full-time independent employment.

We are hoping to raise enough from this event to allow the Foundation to make this purchase and cover some of his medical, living and care expenses. Now this may seem like a huge target but it will matched by the effort made by Josh as he will be personally attempting and – knowing his mindset – completing the 32km bike ride with his hand cycle, regardless of how long it takes.

Long term, the Foundation and Josh would like to see Tour de Frog become an annual Hunter Valley event, with the money raised each year going to a local Hunter Valley family that is facing the financial ramifications that go with spinal injury and permanent paralysis.

For this reason, Josh has insisted that a proportion of the money raised from this year’s event go to someone facing a similar challenge. In 2016, Dom Punch is the local person the event will be supporting after reaching the Foundations primary objective. Dom broke his neck last year playing for Maitland in the rugby union grand final last year. Funds provided to Dom will assist him with his on-going recovery process and help to meet the financial challenges faced by him and his family during the initial phase of his journey.

All event tickets now on sale. Get in quick as spaces are limited!

BIKE RIDE

Push yourself on the stamina testing 100km distance through the beautiful scenes of the Hunter Valley or enjoy the more leisurely 32km ride around Pokolbin and raise funds for Kiss the Frog Foundation, Josh and Dom.

Eventbrite - Tour de Frog 2016

Further information about the ride, the weekend of events, fund raising efforts etc. can be found in the riders information document available for download here. All riders are requested to read our riding etiquette document prior to the event, which is available for download here. Strava routes are available in the above riders information document. Garmin route files are available for download here.

GOLF TOURNAMENT

Conquer 18 holes at Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club’s championship course at Tour de Frog’s inaugural golf day! With longest drive, nearest to the pin and hole in one competitions it will be a great day.

Eventbrite - Tour de Frog 2016

PARTY

Get your family and friends together to celebrate the inaugural Tour de Frog at Goldfish Bar and Kitchen on Saturday night! Enjoy live entertainment by Scotty Sax plus a live auction, awards and lucky door prizes from 6.30pm until late.

50% of all ticket sales for the party go directly to the Kiss the Frog Foundation to help Joshua and Dom achieve successful recoveries and long-term independence.

Eventbrite - Tour de Frog 2016

ACCOMMODATION

Looking for accommodation for the weekend? We’ve got a few packages, but they won’t last long!

Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club is offering a special deal on 2 bedroom villa’s for the Tour de Frog weekend – stay for 2 nights at $410 per night (breakfast included, maximum four people per villa). Call Samantha on 07 3246 1661 and mention ‘Kiss the Frog Foundation’ to book your room.

Stay at Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens in one of their deluxe rooms for $698 for 2 people for 2 nights or at Pokolbin Village Accommodation starting from $648 for 2 nights for 2 guests. Email us today at accommodation@kissthefrog.org.au by 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 to accept one of these packages.

There’s lots of accommodation options for the Hunter Valley. Other websites we recommend for accommodation are:

More Information …

Join our Facebook event page to keep up with the latest news, see who’s attending and get involved in Tour de Frog 2016.

To find out more about the Kiss the Frog Foundation and Josh’s story, see the About section of this website. You can also follow the Foundation on Facebook. To find out more about Dom’s story, head to his website. You can also follow Dom on Facebook.

If you have any queries, please email us at tourdefrog@kissthefrog.org.au and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible. Please include a contact number.

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