With heads down, hearts pumping and spirits high, some of The University of Queensland’s most accomplished staff and students replaced lab coats and laptops with lycra last Saturday to participate in the inaugural Coot-tha Burn cycling event.
The punishing two kilometre time trial took place at Brisbane’s picturesque Mt Coot-tha along a stretch of road notorious for testing even the fittest of cyclists with its steep gradient.
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Executive Dean, Professor Nicholas Fisk, said the UQ-sponsored event was an enormous success.
“I’m one of many cycle tragics at UQ and I’m proud to say we fielded a good number of riders at the Cooth-tha Burn event,” Professor Fisk said.
“This included our very own UQ corporate team who won the mixed Teams Time Trial.”
The Cooth-tha Burn ride raised money to support the Children’s Hospital Foundation and Karuna Hospice Services.
Professor Fisk said it was a great opportunity for staff to get involved in a friendly competition while raising funds for sick kids at the same time.
“A number of our staff and students achieved personal best times on the day and a select few even won their category events,” he said.
“For example, Associate Professor Diann Eley from the School of Medicine took out top place in her age category, while Sharon Del Vecchio, a second year medical student, won the Elite C category.
“In the end we were all winners though – while the legs may have burned, it was good to know our pain was for the gain of sick kids.”
Media: UQ Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Kate Gadenne, k.gadenne@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 5018; 0438 727 895.
