An 82-year-old grandfather is proving that age really is just a number by undertaking a gruelling 5200 kilometre cycle across Australia for a deeply personal cause.
Mr Montgomery and his grandson, 18-year-old Tom Malcolm, are in the final stages of their feat from Broome, Western Australia, to Bowral, New South Wales, to raise vital funds and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Since departing on June 22, the pair have encountered some of the country’s toughest and most remote terrain.
To beat 35-degree heat in parts of the country, they’ve been starting in the pitch dark as early as 5am.
Averaging speeds of 24 kilometres an hour, the grandfather and grandson have been tackling a whopping 160 kilometres a day.
The relentless schedule has been as mentally challenging as it is physical, marked by mechanical setbacks and difficult conditions.
“We had a 260-kilometre day which was brutal. We rode into some strong winds,” Mr Montgomery’s grandson said on 2GB.
“The dominant wind in northern Australia is an easterly, and we are riding east, so we have had the wind in our face for most of the ride.”
But for the 82-year-old, the extreme physical toll of the ride is nothing compared to the daily reality of those living with MND.
It’ll be his sixth and final ride for the cause.
“I’m riding for all of those people affected by this disease [and for] those who no longer can,” he shared on the donation page for MND NSW.
“I have seen family and friends suffer. It’s heartbreaking.
“I can’t do anything medically to help people suffering with MND, but I can help by raising much-needed money for research and to support sufferers of this disease.”
Hundreds wrote on the donation page to share their support of the ‘inspirational’ journey.
“An absolutely incredible achievement! The sheer scale of what you have achieved is hard to fully comprehend. Riding the equivalent of Sydney to London on all 6 MND rides total 20,000 km,” one commenter wrote.
“Just such an extraordinary inspiring courageous challenge. We are cheering you both on,” a second shared.
“What an epic feat you are undertaking! And for such an important cause,” said a third.
A disease with ‘no cure’
Every day in Australia, two people are told they have MND — a debilitating, progressive neurological condition that causes muscle weakness, loss of movement, and breathing difficulties.
It’s a diagnosis that changes lives instantly, but with no known cure and a devastatingly quick decline that sees an average life expectancy of just 27 months, the support provided by charities like MND NSW becomes absolutely critical.
MND NSW CEO Liam O’Meara praised the grandfather and grandson for their incredible feat.
“The ride from Broome to Bowral is an extraordinary effort, not just in distance but in spirit,” Mr O’Meara said on the charity’s website.
“It reflects the best of our MND community — people choosing to push themselves so others facing this disease don’t have to do it alone.”
Having just crossed the border into NSW, the pair are finally on the home stretch.
They plan to finish their epic ride in Mr Montgomery’s hometown of Bowral this Sunday, August 2, having already raised more than $60,000.
With their sights set on an ambitious $500,000 goal, the duo emphasised that every kilometre is worth it, and every donation helps.
If you want to support the ride and donate to MND, you can do so here. You can also follow along on Instagram or Facebook.