Major SGH Moovers sponsor pedals in

Foster Service Centre has has pedalled in as the major sponsor for the SGH Moovers, South Gippsland Hospital’s own team of bicycle-riding fundraisers now in full training mode for the 2023 Woody’s Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay.

First to be placed on the SGH Moovers’ sponsors board at the Station Road and Jones Street corner of the Hospital grounds, Foster Service Centre has contributed $5000 for a team set of cycling jerseys and vests along with a commitment to provide further funding over the next few years.

Foster Service Centre principal Clint Hilder said the SGH Moovers will be wearing the new tops, in the Foster automotive repairs and tyre business’s corporate colours of red, black and white, at this and the next two years’ worth of the Murray to Moyne.

“The South Gippsland Hospital is such a vital part of the Corner Inlet district community, and we are glad to support the SGH Moovers as they ride to generate funds for much-needed surgical equipment,” he said.

“My wife Hannah did her training at South Gippsland Hospital and our two children were born there, so it has an important place in our lives, and in the lives of a lot of other local people, as well.”

SGH chief executive officer Paul Greenhalgh said the SGH Moovers were “very happy to be driven by the Foster Service Centre!

“We appreciate the backing and encouragement Clint’s family-owned business has given to the Hospital’s cycling team members, and therefore to the Hospital itself,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to seeing our cyclists in their smart Foster Service Centre outfits for the first time during this year’s Murray to Moyne, which starts at Moama on Saturday April 1.”

Mr Greenhalgh said SGH is keen to hear from other local district and Gippsland regional businesses, corporations and community groups that are interested in getting behind the SGH Moovers.

“We’re aiming to raise at least $5000 to buy some replacement and upgraded equipment for SGH’s surgical services, though we’d be more than happy to exceed this target and to set a new one, even as much as $10,000.

“So far, more than $3000 has been raised, which is just fantastic!” he said.

“If you would like to support our fundraising as a SGH Moovers sponsor this year, please get in touch with me at South Gippsland Hospital.

“Significant business, corporate or organisation sponsorship from, say, $250, will see your logo go up on our sponsors board outside the Hospital,” Mr Greenhalgh said.

“Individuals are more than welcome to donate to the cause, too, though only business and corporate sponsorships will be listed on the SGH Moovers sponsors board.”

Donations may be made via the SGH Moovers’ online GoFundraise link at www.cycle.gofundraise.com.au/page/Moovers-32854896

The SGH Moovers have gone in the Murray to Moyne every year since 2011, riding from the Murray River to the mouth of the Moyne River at Port Fairy alongside teams who are all raising funds for health services, hospitals and health-related charities.

The Moovers’ leader Mick Manassa said the 15 or so members of the SGH team are well advanced in their training for the 2023 ride, which will see three teams of four or five cyclists taking turns to cover a total of 520 kilometres in two days.

“We’ll be leaving Foster on Friday March 31 and we’ll start on the Murray to Moyne at Moama at 9 am on Saturday morning,” he said.

“Each team will ride hard for an hour and then rest for a couple of hours on the first day as we make our way in relay over the 465 kilometres to Hamilton, which we expect to reach sometime after midnight.

“Then, after a pretty short sleep, we’ll head off together from Hamilton on Sunday April 2 at 7 am sharp and we’ll push straight through to Port Fairy, a distance of about 95 kilometres,” Mr Manassa said.

“The SGH Moovers is a solid team, and we’ve been cycling together a couple of times a week as well as individually on the other days, clocking up 30 to 35 kilometres each ride before we have a coffee.

“We all actually enjoy the training, it’s a social occasion as much as it improves our fitness, and right from Day Dot, it’s always been about doing something together; a joint endeavour to achieve a common goal,” he said.

“A big number of staff from the Hospital, the Community Health Centre, and from the Foster and Toora Medical Centre, along with quite a few local people, regularly go on the training rides with us to support the SGH Mooversteam.”

Mr Greenhalgh said, “it’s great to see so many Hospital staff, local health professionals and service providers, and the community working together.

“We invite local and regional businesses to join in, and to add their sponsorship to the efforts of the SGH Mooversas they cycle for the South Gippsland Hospital and the community it serves.”

For more information about the South Gippsland Hospital and the SGH Moovers’ 2023 Murray to Moyne team relay, and how to become a sponsor or make a donation, see www.southgippslandhospital.com.au or find South Gippsland Hospital on Facebook.

Donations may be made via https://cycle.gofundraise.com.au/page/Moovers-32854896

• South Gippsland Hospital CEO Paul Greenhalgh with SGH Moovers team leader Mick Manassa, and SGH Moovers’ major sponsor for the 2023 Murray to Moyne, Foster Service Centre proprietor Clint Hilder.

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