Tynan Motors Group launched this month an ambitious fund-raising program aimed at raising half a million dollars for St George Sutherland Medical Research Foundation.
The Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge celebrates the life of the late businessman and community leader and the 50th anniversary of the business he founded at Sutherland in 1966.
Mr Tynan, who died in February, was an early supporter and a generous benefactor of the medical research foundation, which was set up nine years ago.
In 2014 and 2015, the foundation announced grants of more than $1 million, including two major capacity building grants of $300,000 each.
Other research projects include the impact of an exercise program on patients with lymphoma who are receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy, acute brain injury, blood clot research, pharyngeal and oesophageal diseases and management of acute back pain.
The August 26 launch brought together major sponsors including the St George Bank, Tribe Fitness, Optus and representatives of the three facets of the challenge – a 100 kilometre walk from Wollongong University to St George, teams of paddlers who will paddle from Wollongong to Sutherland Shire, and a car rally.
Tynan urges people to get behind the challenge by sponsoring the walkers, paddlers and rally drivers.
The walk will be limited to 100 people and would include high profile footballers from the Cronulla Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons, and members of Parliament including Cronulla MP Mark Speakman and Cook MP Scott Morrison.
Many prominent institutions are supporting the event on October 22-23.
They include the University of Wollongong, St George Leagues and Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Clubs, The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, Optus, St George Bank, Tradies, Westfield Miranda and Masterton Homes.
The challenge begins at 6am at the University of Wollongong, but walkers won’t have to climb the escarpment.
Instead they will be driven by bus to the starting point on Lady Wakehurst Drive at Otford where they will pick up the scenic coastal walk, a 27 kilometre hike to Bundeena where they will meet up with the paddlers and catch the ferry to Cronulla.
The day ends with dinner with participants from the other challenges at Southern Districts Rugby Club.
The next day the walkers will meet at Sharkies and hike to St George Leagues Club via Tynan Motors dealerships at Sutherland and Kirrawee.
The car rally will be an observation trial where drivers and their navigators will be sent off on to various locations on a treasure hunt.
They will leave from University of Wollongong between midday and 1pm.
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