Smiling for Smiddy was created to commemorate the life of Adam Smiddy - a young physiotherapist who passed away in August 2006 after a short battle against an aggressive cancer. Adam was just 26 years of age and in the prime of his life.
Mark "Sharky" Smoothy, a triathlon coach at The University of Queensland, was a great mate of Smiddy. Mark and Adam loved to ride and the two of them often talked about doing a credit card ride - riding for a few days in one direction with nothing other than a credit card in their pockets then catching a bus back to Brisbane. That dream was never realised, hence the idea for the Smiddy Challenge - a 1600 kilometre, 8 day ride ride from Brisbane to Townsville. Mark's aim is to keep the name of Adam Smiddy alive, and to raise much-needed funds for ongoing cancer research.
Since its beginnings in 2006 the Smiling for Smiddy Challenge has achieved outstanding fundraising success:
- 2006 saw three riders raise $24,000
- 2007 saw 21 riders raise $193,000
- 2008 saw 50 riders raise $419,000
- 2009 saw 50 riders raise $540,000
The Smiddy Challenge recorded a major milestone in 2009 with total fundraising over three years passing the $1.1 million mark.