As the sun rose over the Australian War Memorial at 5:30am this morning, more than 200 riders, buoyed by a myriad of personal reasons, did what most of us would struggle to contemplate doing and set off on a nine-day, 1,400km bike ride to raise funds for cancer research.
2026 Young Australian of the Year Nedd Brockmann and TV personality Mark Beretta were among the cyclists and their support crew who departed Canberra to begin the annual Tour de Cure Signature Tour. The event aims to raise another $2 million for cancer research, support programs and prevention projects across Australia.
Over the course of the journey, riders will cover 1,400km and approximately 20,000m of elevation, cycling through regional towns and communities while raising awareness of cancer prevention and the importance of early detection
Local Veteran Tour de Cure rider and ride leader, Andrew Gersbach, is keen to get on the ride again this year.
“In 1995, my mum passed away from bowel cancer at the age of 44 when I was only 22,” he said.
“So, I feel there’s a real personal element in that I am doing something that makes a difference.”
Veteran Tour de Cure rider and ride leader Andrew Gersbach has been taking part in the annual charity ride since 2014. Photo: Bernie Ryan.
Mr Gersbach has ridden bikes since his childhood, although given the demands of work and life, he didn’t ride for around fifteen years before literally ‘getting back on the bike’ again.
In 2012, whilst on a 24-hour mountain bike ride in Canberra, Mr Gersbach was packing up over a campfire with Danny Moore, already a Tour de Cure rider, when Danny handed him a hat.
“Danny said, ‘This is something you may be interested in at some point and when the time is right, you’ll know’,” said Mr Gersbach.
“I later watched the Tour de Cure documentary … it hit me emotionally, and I just knew then that the time was right.”
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Mr Gersbach has ridden every year since his first ride in 2014, and will be joined again by his son, Caleb for the third time since Caleb started riding with him in 2024.
Caleb turns twenty in May.
“Another thing I love is that it fills up your heart in a lot of ways. Every night we stop on these tours, no matter what tour it is, and we stop in a local regional community and give that community $10,000 to support people with cancer,” says Mr Gersbach.
Marking its 20th year, the 2026 Signature Tour has grown from humble beginnings into one of Australia’s most inspiring and impactful charity cycling events and Tour de Cure’s single biggest event fundraiser.
Three mates, Geoff Combes, Samantha Hollier-James and Gary Bertwistle decided to do something about cancer and founded Tour de Curein 2007.
Since then, the organisation has raised over $158 million and funded more than 1,220 cancer research, prevention and support projects, including research that has contributed to 231 world-class scientific breakthroughs.
The 2026 Signature Tour will deliver direct support to communities along the route, benefiting vital services in nine rural and regional areas.
Day 0: Thursday 12th March – Arrival in Canberra
Day 1: Friday 13th March – Canberra > Jindabyne
Day 2: Saturday 14th March – Jindabyne > Corryong
Day 3: Sunday 15th March – Corryong > Beechworth
Day 4: Monday 16th March – Ballarat > Geelong
Day 5: Tuesday 17th March – Geelong Loop via Torquay
Day 6: Wednesday 18th March – Devonport > Cradle Mountain
Day 7: Thursday 19th March – Cradle Mountain > Launceston
Day 8: Friday 20th March – Launceston > Swansea
Day 9: Saturday 21st March – Swansea > Hobart
Joining Mr Gersbach, Caleb and the other riders for the first time this year is another Canberra local and professional cyclist, Brendan ‘Trekky’ Johnston, who competed last year in the Life Time Grand Prix cycling series in the United States.
Mr Johnston says he has been looking forward to the opportunity, especially the regional stops, where riders get to speak with students at local schools.
“I can appreciate the difficulties regional families and individuals have,” he said.
“My desire to be involved is motivated by my experience when I was 17 years old, of being diagnosed with testicular cancer, and I went through a lot back then.
“It was traumatic … and if anyone could be spared that it would be great. With less invasive and intense treatment, those journeys could be less costly for others than they were for me.”
Mr Johnston reiterated that the regional aspect of the tour makes it feel even more worthwhile.
“I was living on the south coast when I was diagnosed and had to travel regularly to Canberra for treatment,” he said.
“So, I can appreciate the difficulties regional families and individuals have.”
Both Mr Gersbach and Mr Johnston agree that apart from the overall calibre of the Tour de Cure organisation, its supporters and volunteers, they love that nearly all the money riders raise goes directly to where it should.
“You can see where the money is going”, said Mr Johnston.
This commitment to getting the funds raised directly where it has the most impact is one of the reasonsTour de Cure is a registered Australian Tier 1 Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
In Australia, a Tier One charity reflects the high standards of transparency, accountability, and measurable impact.
These charities are usually recognised for their effective management of funds and their ability to demonstrate tangible results.
“Tour de Cure is one of the highest performing charities in actually reaching their intended recipient, which I love,” added Mr Gersbach.
So, what else keeps these riders coming back year after year, for what is clearly a gruelling physical feat?
Mr Gersbach says that one year, immediately after completing the ride and feeling physically spent, he asked fellow rider Paul Beretta (Mark’s brother) if he would be back the next year.
“He said, ‘Absolutely!’”
And why?
“‘Because whilst ever you can do something, you should do something,’ he told me,” said Mr Gersbach.
If you would like to support Tour de Cure in its mission to find cures for cancer, and support those living with cancer, you can learn more via tourdecure.com.au.