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Emma Finney

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Cardiac Crusaders

So here goes … Now officially committed to train with a goal to ride 333km over 3 days from Cairns to Cooktown in September! The Cardiac Crusaders is a Cairns Regional Council and friends team, we and our supporters will make a real difference in the lives of people in our immediate FNQ community! We are fundraising to raise money for life-saving cardiac equipment and care.

Every kilometre I pedal is a step closer to better care, more advanced equipment, and improved outcomes for those who need it most. 

It’s not just a bike ride; it’s a way to give back to the community, inspire others, and show that together, we can achieve something incredible.

Friends and my family you have supported me through out our life journey, my paddling adventures and more recently my running journey.  In 2024, Finishing a 21.1km run in a Half Ironman Team and a month later backing up with completing a full Marathon 42.1km from no running history. This was an experience I never imagined possible. This year 2025 the challenge, to learn to ride a road bike, learn pack riding, tackle hills, and the elements of FNQ as an absolute beginner and fully supported, for a great cause . One day I may be ready for a Triathlon .  One journey at a time. 

Please join me on this journey — whether it’s by cheering us on, spreading the word, or making a donation. 

Thank you, for being part of my life, and part of this ride with me!

I plan to regularly blog over the next 15 weeks of training and over the 3 day ride ! Let’s do this xo Em 

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My Goal

$500

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My Achievements

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Received 5 Donations

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My Updates

Week 10 - 6 August

Sunday 24th Aug
Backing it up Baron and Stoney Creek - Hills

Week 10 - 5 August

Sunday 24th Aug
Had an embarrassing tumble at the Stanton Road / Captain Cook Hwy Lights when almost home. Clipped out then clipped in with out noticing and when stopped fell over. Argh

Week 9 - 3 August

Sunday 24th Aug
Biggest week yet totaling 185km! Finished with a bang on Sunday with an 80+km ride. Joined Gary at Kamerunga bridge where we did two laps to Stoney Creek on hills. Back via Brinsmead, Reservoir Road , Edge Hill Collins Ave where said goodbyes to Gary. Took the road via Aeroglen Stratford Freshwater and then Northern Beaches where at 55km stopped in for a coffee and fruit with Mum. Fueled up finished beaches loop for a lookin over the water before home via Captain Cook. Phew !

Week 9 - 1 August

Sunday 24th Aug
Northern Beaches - Practicing Cornering

Week 9 - 31 July

Sunday 24th Aug
She Spoke Ladies Morning Ride with Karen Lead, my buddy and teaching me new skills

Week 9 - 30 July

Sunday 24th Aug
More Hills, backing it up with 2nd day at Barron River 

Week 9 - 30 July

Sunday 24th Aug
Queen of the Mountain - bargain deal full wardrobe arrived. The real deal! 

Week 9 - 29 July

Sunday 24th Aug
Personal Record to Barron River and Barron River x 2 - Hills

Week 9 - 28 July

Sunday 24th Aug
Cairns Cycling Club 
Monday Ladies Beginners with Richie Bates learning to drink from the drink bottle whilst riding. 
Ladies Advanced with Abi total 21 Ladies! 

Week 8 - 24 July

Sunday 24th Aug
She Spoke Thursday 5:30-6:30am Morning Ladies Cycling Group - Abi lead. 
First times:
Up Reservoir Road
Down into Whitfield  
Back to Stratford on the Captain Cook Hwy
Best coffee to celebrate at the Wolf Cafe Stratford

Week 8 - 23 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
Very comfortable road ride at peak hour in MB Cleats. Many clip-in and out. Mastering the road safely. 

Week 8 - Wednesday 23

Sunday 3rd Aug
Robbie xo

Week 8 - 22 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
Tuesday Afternoon Barron Ride with Mountain Bike Cleats. A successful ride with clip-in and out no dramas and first time up the hill from the carpark. Descents getting faster as more confident.

Week 7 - 19 -20 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
Over the next two weeks I was committed as a committee member to assist with hosting Hekili's Events over two weekends 20-26th July Min G and GBROC.
My job was team leader of Presentations and this entailed preparation of medals and delivery at the presentations. Also pre-race duties assisting Rego and raffle ticket sales. On Saturday 19th I paddled for the first time with 3 strong ladies from Cairns Beaches and Stoney and Aoife from Hekili in an OC6 Matahina as a pre race paddle. On the Sunday we paddled 22km from Yorkey's to Ellis Beach round the back of Port Douglas at an average speed in glass out conditions of 10.4km/hr. We won god for Open Women!

Week 6 - 18 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
Cairns Show Day Friday and Mini G Hekili Weekend - Practiced on the trainer with new shoes and although not feeling 100% set off to Yorkey's Knob. Felt not 100% as hard to clip out taking loads of effort. Made it the Yorkey's Knob and not feeling comfortable. Headed home. Almost called Sean. Decided to just unclip one shoe and ride unclipped home for safety which was awkward.  When arrived home Sean mentioned that they were done up tight and he could adjust for ease to unclip. I was furious! "I could had died, why did you make them tight?". I made Sean teach me how to adjust and made each cleat only two turns. Had lunch. Set off again. AMAZING! Can clip in and out. Finally can get back to training and practicing on the road. GOT THIS. 

Week 6 - 16 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
New Mountain Bike Cleats - Determined not to give up got some new shoes and watched a few tutorials .

Week 6 - 15 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
Best climb out of Barron. 
First ride in road cleats. Successfully but only just made it to the Barron Bridge after some terrifying descents whilst being attached to the pedals. Then it got fun. With only 20m max from the carpark gate to the a very steep incline the challenge was to get on clip-in in time to climb the hill. This took about 4 goes to clip in, before I lost balance and fell off and grazed my leg and arm. Chain came off too. So embarrassed with the slow fall, although no one seen. Was short day lengths and loosing light. I almost called Sean to come get me as stuck at the bottom of this hill with chain off. I got myself together, turned bike upside down and fixed the chain. Then I needed to do a few short lengths to get the chain and gears right. Took two more attempts to click-in before I was successful and made it up the hill! A very slow decent, happy to be on the footpath along Kamerunga road and than only to unclip and walk the bike across Kennedy Hwy at Pedestrian Crossing near Canopy's edge with a fear of not clipping back in and falling Infront of cars. So Happy I made it home. Last time wearing the road cleats as decided Mountain Bike ones sound better for learning. 

Week 6 - Sunday 13 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
First Time in Road Cleats at JCU car park x 12km. Felt ok. Excess energy after another tough week with family ran off some steam though the valley of the mighty Barron River. Fastest pace ever felt free and alive.

Week 5 - 10 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
This week mum moved out of hospital and into Kewarra Nursing Home. Big week. Sunday ride along Freshwater Creek out to Crystal Cascades on the footpath and home via the road. First bad experience on a round about with an inconsiderate driver. Had a minor fall with bruisers on calf knee and thigh. Hope the drive got as mush of a shock as I did. Good learning. 

Week 5 - 6 July

Sunday 3rd Aug
Pretty big set back as mum landed in hospital and on the Wednesday almost lost her due to infection in lung from broken T1 neck bone causing difficulty breathing and swallow. Over 3 weeks whilst mum was in hospital group training was on hold and life was hard. Spent Sunday 6 July experiencing a long ride. Just taking it all in. 

Week 4 - 29 June

Sunday 3rd Aug
Sunday personal challenge mini triathlon.  

Week 3 - Friday 20 June

Sunday 3rd Aug
RDO Friday - First ride from home into Cairns mainly on footpaths. Worked out a safe route to ride to work....

Week 3 - 15 June Ironman Volunteering

Sunday 3rd Aug
Big day on the Wangetti Aid Station Bike Leg 5:30am-5:30pm. Gels, bars, h2o, electrolytes, mechanics, toilets, first aid. Inspired by the athletes. 

Week 2 - 14 June

Sunday 3rd Aug
Caught up with Justyna and Garry at Red Beret for a Crystal Cascades Ride. Not even at Crystal Cascade and I had a blow out. After an attempt to change the tube for the fist time and failed, almost about to call for a lift and a kid cyclist pulled up and saved the day. Must have been some of the culprit still in my tyre as shortly after another blow out and this time waited for a lift. Finished the ride with a long lunch at the Red Beret with partners in our riding attire and ran into fellow cyclists over lunch who were also celebrating after a ride, 

Week 2 - 9 June

Sunday 3rd Aug
Tuesday afternoon, Cycling with Justyna. Following my mate and mentor on Kamerunga road into Freshwater and return. 

Week 2 - 8 June

Sunday 3rd Aug
Second Cardiac Challenge Sunday Ride and the only female as a huge Saturday at the Velodrome for Relay for Life. Some men had cycled 200-300km round the 400m track and were backing it up. We agreed to ride slow at a 25/hr pace but 10km in we were pushing 30km/hr. Sean dropped back with two others and we rode as a pack of 4. First time on the hwy, longest ride and fastest ride at 26km/hr pace. Well supported and looked after. Jonathan was shortly after our ride on a plane to the Tour De France ! 

Week 1 - 1st June

Sunday 1st Jun
Mary, Justyna, Robbie, Dom
Wonderful first ever pack ride with Cardiac Challenge. Took the back roads from Cairns to Maitland Road onto Mt Peter Road through scenic fields and large country lots of Edmonton to the weir. Raced a 6km stretch down a rural road where we gave it all. Crossed over the Bruce Hwy on bridge into Gordonvale, with the best view of the Pyramid. Though the Character areas of Gordonvale with a pause for a toilet, drink and photo in main street. Return via the Hwy with concentration and single file. A great run back on to Comport Street, Draper and Spence. Finished with good coffee and banter about the ride.  Great Morning learning new skills and meeting new people (cyclist's).   Ow, finished with a sauna interspersed with cold pool plunges at Charlie and Justyna's, home and a nap. 

Thank you to my Sponsors

$500

Ransom Coffee Roasters

May you ride strong and happy 🩷

$52.75

Kylie Lamb

My hero! Ride like the wind!

$30

Natalie Turner

Proud of you Em.

$26.38

Judy Finney

Our Team