Paul Marotta, Allan Shaw and Steve Elward started pedalling at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday and plan on finishing in Melbourne’s Federation Square on Friday.

The route is 1181 kilometres and involves 15,573 metres of vertical climbing – the equivalent of more than five Mount Kosciuszkos in distance. 

Although this does not seem to bother the cycling enthusiasts, who simply said the hills were “fine” and they were enjoying the beautiful sights on their journey.

‘Cycle for cause’ is the brainchild of Paul Marotta whose sister-in-law Angie Siperki, a 36-year-old mother of two, was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. 

He and his two friends plan to raise $25,000 for the NBCF for research and into breast cancer prevention. 

The team has already raised $18,900 and is well on its way to reaching the goal. 

Mr Marotta  said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the generosity of the South Coast as they made their way down the Princes Highway. 

“Yesterday we stopped at Sanctuary Point and received a warm welcome by the director of the leagues club there,” Mr Marotta said.

“His daughter died at the age of 40 from breast cancer and he has raised more than 100,000 dollars for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

“He shouted us all dinner last night which was very generous of him.

“It’s amazing how this disease has touched so many people.”   

In Australia one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and the ‘cycle for cause’ ride will assist ongoing research into the prevention and cure of breast cancer undertaken by the NBCF.

On Monday the team left for Bermagui and on Tuesday made its way across the NSW border 

For more information on the Cycle for cause, or to donate, visit www.cycleforcause.com.au.