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Raising funds for an “incredible cause”, three network executives hit the brakes on being business leaders to take on a 350-kilometre bike ride.
Harcourts chief financial officer Kym Warner, group financial controller Kelly Podlich and Australian financial controller Leah Haigh formed a team to represent the network in a women’s corporate cycling challenge held from 21 to 23 October.
The initiative — spearheaded by the Sisters of the Saddle — aimed to raise a total of $250,000 for its charity partner, TRACTION, a community-based, not-for-profit program that focuses on empowering young people who are facing challenges that are “beyond their ability to cope”.
Grim figures show that among the youth, one in 10 is disengaged from education, training and employment, one in four has a mental health challenge, and more young people die from suicide than any other cause.
In order to address these alarming issues, funds raised from the event will be used by TRACTION to collaborate with an Indigenous community to co-design a community bicycle and mentoring program for young people that meets community needs and builds strong collective ties.
A total of 40 women leaders, including the Harcourts team, stepped up to the challenge and rode over three days through what they referred to as “gruelling conditions” through the Gold Coast Hinterland into Brisbane.
Aside from the staggering distance the ride entailed, competing teams also had to deal with an altitude rise of 2,500 metres along the way.
All riders participated in a 10-week professional training program led by coach Kirsty Broun to prepare for the three-day event. The coaching program did not only help competitors physically, but it also helped develop camaraderie and competitiveness and emphasised safety on the bike and as part of the peloton above all else.
Looking back on the training regime, which involved waking up at 4:30am and riding over 150 kilometres each week and climbing hills, Ms Warner reflected that it helped them to push themselves out of their comfort zone while getting their fitness levels up.
In the end, the Harcourts team’s perseverance paid off as the group was named as the fourth top fundraiser of the event. In total, the team contributed more than $53,000 — with the network’s charity arm, Harcourts Foundation, donating $5,000.
On top of this, the Sisters of the Saddle also exceeded its fundraising target and reported a total of $300,000 was collected at the end of the event.
While this marked just the second time the Harcourts was represented in the event, Ms Warner is a familiar face in the biking crowd.
“In 2021, I was lucky to support two of my team members Kelly and Leah undertake their first challenge ride raising funds for TRACTION,” commented Ms Warner.
“This year, they both returned for their second ride (it was my fifth!) and having Harcourts support us during both years has been instrumental in the three of us being able to commit to the training and fundraising that such a challenge presents.”
For Ms Podlich, the best aspect of the event was the community that underpinned it. “One of the best parts is the people — those who coach you, encourage and support you, laugh and cry with you and those who make the ride happen,” she remarked.
Ms Warner concurred with Ms Podlich’s comment, crediting the strong support system they have for their success.
“At the end of the day, it takes the support of our families, friends, and workplaces to help us undertake this journey every year, and without the help of Harcourts and Mike Green, who constantly tells us we are ‘crazy’ — which I hear as ‘awesome!’ — it would be difficult for us to keep coming back each year,” she said.
Ms Haigh shared that her main driving force for participating in the daunting challenge was to give back to the community.
“Being able to contribute in some way to a program that provides opportunities for Indigenous communities was a very cool thing to be part of,” she stated.
Ms Warner also shared why she took part in the event for the fifth time. “For me — I do this challenge because it takes me out of my comfort zone; it provides me with an opportunity to be part of a team of exceptional ladies who support and challenge each other every day.
“It’s refreshing to see women supporting women through adversity, celebrating success, and having so much fun and laughter whilst doing it,” Ms Warner stated.
