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Three Harcourts agents have biked a total of 535 kilometres across Thailand to raise funds for charity, an experience they’ve described as “life-changing”.
Michael Garside and Aimee Garside from Harcourts Dapto, along with Etienne Labuschagne from Harcourts Solutions, formed Team Garside to participate in the Ride to Provide event held in the south-east Asian country on 14 to 22 August.
The charity bike ride — which is open to everyone from across the real estate industry — was held to raise money to support the ongoing work of Hands Across the Water, a charity that aims to connect underprivileged and disadvantaged children with homes, food, education and future pathways.
Funds raised from the event will be used by the charity to provide life-saving necessities for more than 350 kids living in seven supported homes, as well as outreach projects for underprivileged families across Thailand.
A total of 19 participants from different countries, including Australia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Thailand, came together during the event, which was kicked off in Bueng Kan, located in Thailand’s north-east region.
Then, participants cycled following the Mekong River before heading west through villages and rural communities.
The five-day event also included a ride into one of the charity’s houses called Home Hug, located in Yasothon, where participants got a chance to interact with the children under the charity’s care.
A total of $155,000 was raised by the group during the event, with Team Garside securing the second place on the fundraising leader board.
According to Mr Garside and Ms Garside, they did not really expect to participate in the event. But he divulged that it was the encouragement of an acquaintance that led to them joining the real estate bike ride.
“I was at a leadership conference, and Steve Carroll told us about this real estate bike ride; and then Steve sort of volunteered me!” Mr Garside jovially recalled.
While joining the charity bike ride came as an unexpected happenstance, Mr Garside recalled that he had been surprised how kids from the charity stepped up during the bushfires in 2019–2020 — a touching gesture that eventually compelled him to reciprocate the act of kindness.
“I was taken aback by money raised by some kids in Thailand to help those affected by the NSW bushfires. These children in Home Hug, who had so little, gave to Australians in need. Something very special indeed.
“Without really realising it, I started to think about how I could give something back,” he professed.
The principal of Harcourts Dapto also revealed interesting details about their experience, including riding with a Buddhist monk as a guide, the different obstacles they had to endure during the long trek, and the positive interactions with locals.
Mr Garside said that one of the highlights of the ride was meeting the children in Home Hug.
“Words cannot describe the feeling of arriving at their home and being surrounded by their welcome party,” continued Mr Garside.
“Our children greeted us with cold drinks, name tags with our faces, dancing and a walk through of their home — it was like some magical land filled with gardens, animals and grateful little souls everywhere.”
Mr Garside extended his gratitude to everyone who had supported their team throughout the “life-changing” journey.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has put in to support us, especially the Harcourts Foundation grant which started us off so strongly.
“This ride, put together by Hands Across the Water and Digital Live Ride, was an unforgettable experience — we will forever be changed for what we went through and have made lifelong friends with the amazing people we rode with,” he said.
Mr Garside noted that donations are still open for the charity.
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