The Jetblack 24 Hour 2023 truly tested the endurance, spirit, minds and legs of our Rocky Trail Racers. This year’s Jetblack 24 Hour helped spread the word about the World Bicycle Relief organisation’s mission and raised enough funds to donate 10 bicycles.
Rocky Trail is committed to changing lives through the Power of Bicycles. With this year’s Jetblack 24 Hour, we helped spread the word about the World Bicycle Relief Organisation and their mission to create access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity in low-income, rural communities where distance is a challenge. Equipped with a purpose-designed Buffalo Bicycle from World Bicycle Relief, which was be on display (and was put to use at the Jetblack 24 Hour!), children can reach school, healthcare workers can visit patients, and small business owners can build their incomes.
To date, World Bicycle Relief has distributed 750,000 bicycles, and is now focused on its goal of 1 million bikes by 2025. We are so pleased that our #rockytrailracers donated funds to generate enough money to buy 9 bikes, we decided to chip in and buy the last to make it 10!
Maureen Kolenyo, who is World Bicycle Relief’s East Africa Regional Director, based in Nairobi, Kenya was at the event with representatives of the WBR Australia Office. She said,
“Many children in rural areas must walk to school and the long distances are a challenge. Our Buffalo Bicycle is something that changes these children’s lives. They are safe. They can get home on time. They can improve the quality of their life. And with more energy and time, they can perform better in the classroom.
“Partnership is a core value at World Bicycle Relief, and we are thrilled to have the support of Rocky Trail Entertainment, as well as the broader cycling community in Australia, as we work to create a world where distance is no longer a barrier to independence and livelihood.”
With short but strong showers moving through on Saturday morning, the start of the 2023 Jetblack 24 Hour event had been delayed by 2 hours. A strong field of almost 300 racers – as well as supporters and crew – braved two more downpours in the afternoon and even the edges of a passing storm before settling in to a more calm evening and night race pace. The Sunday then, rewarded us with a magically misty morning and a steamy, hot and sunny finish.
Jason English and Ronel Cook are our 2023 Solo Outright Champions.
The next edition of the Jetblack 24 Hour will return to the Seven Valleys and Rydal Showground in Lidsdale State Forest on the weekend of 30 November – 1 December 2024.
