LEETON shire will be treated to not just one, but two Australia Day ambassadors in 2018.
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Samantha Hollier and Geoff Coombes are founders of the Tour de Cure ride, which is held every year to raise vital funds in the fight against cancer.
Residents may be familiar with the ride thanks to Sunrise sports and weather presenters Mark Beretta and James Tobin who are two regular participants and promoters of the event.
This year both Ms Hollier and Mr Coombes will take a break from their duties, training and fundraising to come to Leeton and speak at the town’s Australia Day awards ceremony.
In 2007, three mates – Mr Coombes, Ms Hollie and Gary Bertwistle – met up for a quiet coffee in Sydney.
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They wanted to make a difference and decided to see what disease affected the most Australians.
With one in two men and women affected by cancer by the age of 85, they decided to focus their efforts on helping to find a cure.
Since deciding on a ride, the now well known Tour de Cure is held annually and raises millions of dollars towards funding a way to stamp out this insidious disease.
Mr Coombes is a board member of the Tour de Cure, as well as director of development.
He works with corporate partners to engage their brand, staff and customers in the mission to cure cancer.
Mr Coombes is also a proud father to India, Jack and Lily and is the driving force behind the Tour de Cure’s Be Fit, Be Healthy, Be Happy program, which raises awareness about cancer prevention to school kids across Australia.
Cycling remains one of his major passions, up at 4.30am to ride his bike, as well as helping others train for the tour.
Ms Hollier is also a board member of Tour de Cure and is a director of business development at oOh! Edge.
She has extensive marketing and event experience both in Australia and key European markets and she uses these skills to drive the Tour de Cure forward.
Ms Hollier has also worked for companies such as Diageo, Hewlett-Packard, Sony, Pepsi and Toyota.
She is also a proud wife and mother to two daughters and uses every opportunity she has to discuss the tour and bring awareness to the ride and its mission.
Hear the ambassadors share their story on Australia Day morning in Mountford Park.
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