A group of former rugby players who once put their bodies on the line for state or country are doing so again to raise money for sick children.

A group of 11 Vintage Reds, including recently retired Reds flanker David Croft and former World Cup winning Wallaby Daniel Herbert, set out in pre-dawn gloom on Friday, January 23 to ride bikes from Brisbane to Toowoomba, to raise funds for the Paediatric Unit at the Toowoomba Hospital.

The ride is also timed to coincide with the QR Reds v Waratahs pre-season trial match in Toowoomba on Saturday night and a Friday night fund-raising dinner for the local rugby union.

Co-organiser and former Wallaby and Queensland prop Andrew Heath said the group's initial target was to raise enough to buy a Massimo Cardiac Monitor, which is used to closely and accurately monitor oxygen saturation levels and heart rhythm.

"That's a target of around $6,000, but if we raise more we can also help support a Toowoomba-based addition to RACQ's CareFlight Rescue Service," Heath said.

Those taking part with Heath are: David Croft, Daniel Herbert, Anthony Herbert, Dan Crowley, Pat Howard, Damian Smith, Drew Barrett, Mark Anderson, Christiaan Knapp and Fletcher Dyson.

Heath said the ride will be a major test for many of the riders who have never attempted even half this distance before - let alone a ride that finishes with such a punishing climb up the Toowoomba range.

"From a cycling perspective, the goal is extremely difficult," Heath said.

"The route covers over 145km and travels through Ipswich, Rosewood, Gatton and Laidley before heading up the range where the boys will be tested to the limit.

"The ride is also likely to be dominated by a head-cross wind with rain and thunderstorms expected from early afternoon onwards. We'll probably come out of it feeling like we've been rucked over by a succession of New Zealand forward packs!"

Steady rain had already started when the group left Toowong in steamy 25 degree temperatures just after 5am.

One of the wobbliest was nervous first time rider Croft, riding a donated $2300 Merida race bike that will later be auctioned for the cause.

The pack hopes to finish at Toowoomba Hospital sometime between 12 and 2pm.

Riding under the coaching and experience of Cycling Science, the Vintage Reds will ride as a peloton and work together as efficiently as possible.

Heath said the group's progress can be tracked online using the latest GPS tracking technology and a web portal from SkyNET Mobile Communications.

Donations can also be made online at www.data3.com.au/ride/vr.html

Heath said cycling is great fitness and fun, "particularly for ex-Reds player who tend to let the body go after their contracts have finished".

"Bike sales have exceeded car sales for the seventh consecutive year in Australia. In the corporate world they are saying 'cycling is the new golf'.

"If this year goes well we'd look to do the ride again next year, and involve a lot more people."


You can actually track them onlinehttp://www.skynetsattrack.com/data3.php right now!


Vintage Reds (from left) David Croft, Andrew Heath, Daniel Herbert, Mark Anderson, Dan Crowley, Fletcher Dyson, Anthony Herbert, Pat Howard, Christiaan Knapp, Damian Smith and Drew Barrett at least look the part as they prepare to leave Toowong on their marathon ride