In 2025 the Live for Lily Foundation (LFL) will celebrate 10 years of working to raise money for childhood cancer research, in memory of Lily Hester who lost her battle with liver cancer in 2014. LFL has raised over $2m for childhood cancer research, funding programs at the Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI). 100% volunteer based, the Live for Lily Foundation now funds 2 full time scientists – the Live for Lily Senior Scientist at CCI and the Live for Lily Early Research Career Scientist at MCRI.
As part of this research LFL supports the Zero Program – which provides personalised medicine to all children in Australia with cancer, and is now being rolled out in NZ. This means EVERY child in Australia diagnosed with cancer can receive treatment that is designed to attack their specific tumour. By funding this research, LFL believes there will be improved survival rates and ultimately a cure for childhood cancer.
The Live for Lily foundation raises funds by organising an annual endurance bike ride and a bi-annual gala ball in Melbourne where the wider LFL community is celebrated and given further opportunities to support the funding of research.
In 2025 the annual Ride for Lily will see a group of 30 cyclists ride from Port Macquarie in NSW to Noosa, QLD – a total of 1000km over 7 days. The ride will stop at Nambucca Heads, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Byron Bay, Burleigh Heads, Brisbane & finish in Noosa.
Riders pay their own way on the ride, and train for over 6 months to take on the 1000km ride. Every rider is responsible for fundraising at least $5000, 100% of which goes to fund research at the Children’s Cancer Institute and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. In 2025 the Pedal to Paradise is aiming to raise over $300k.
Run entirely by volunteers and with support from major sponsor Airport Toyota, every year the Ride for Lily is a new course which is always 1000km with significant elevation. Lily’s dad Aaron designs the ride to present a physical and mental challenge, which whilst significant, does not compare to the challenges kids with cancer and their families face. The Pedal to Paradise will be the 9th Ride for Lily event and the first venturing into QLD. Of the 30 riders taking part, there are:
● 12 teachers or people working in education – with the majority of those being PE teachers
● 2 father & sons and 3 sets of brothers/sisters
● 6 couples riding
● 2 teenagers – Finn (15 years) on his first ride and Oliver (Lily’s sister, 18 years) on his fourth ride
● 2 international riders from NZ
The 2025 Pedal to Paradise rider profiles and campaign page can be found here: https://live-for-lily-foundation.grassrootz.com/pedal-to-paradise
