Sport
14 December, 2025
How Saints boys got Olly his specialised mountain bike
A GROUP of year 8 boys from St Augustine’s College in Cairns have helped raise $4000 to buy specialised cycling equipment for their classmate so he can join the college’s mountain biking team.
College careers support officer and cycling coordinator Chad Elliott said the initiative began when students knocked on his office door seeking support for their friend Olly (surname withheld), who has dwarfism and required a specially-adapted bike to participate in the sport.
“The life of a teacher is busy and this multiplies when you are the cycling coordinator for a team of 46 riders. So, when a group of year 7 and 8 students knocked on my office door and asked for help raising funds for their mate, I put paperwork aside and helped them accomplish their goal,” he said.
In early October 2025, Darcy, Harrison, Finn and Jai (surnames withheld) approached Mr Elliott.
“They flooded my office, excitedly stating, ‘We need to help Olly get a bike. Sir, he is so good on the pump track, but because he has dwarfism, he can’t get his bike easily up and around at Smithfield’.
“Thus began a journey of brotherhood and community engagement to help Olly purchase a bike that was fit for purpose,” he said.
Mr Elliott contacted the student’s mother, who also has dwarfism, and worked with other parents to organise fundraising. Plans were set in motion to hold a raffle to help raise the necessary funds.
“When we began asking for sponsors to provide prizes, the response was overwhelming. Corporate sponsors started replying and, within an hour, we had most of the money needed to purchase a specialised Turbo Levo SL 24. The remaining funds were provided directly by Specialised Australia, which discounted the cost after seeing the community’s outpouring of support,” he said.
Brad Shannon, managing director of Pump ‘n’ Pedals, also coordinated with Specialised to ensure Olly’s bike was properly adapted, providing expert advice and support throughout the process.
Local businesses all around Cairns contributed.
“This includes Cairns Wholesale Paint, which just burnt down. These aren’t businesses even connected to our school. They just heard this story about these boys that are rallying around their friend,” Mr Elliott said.
The response moved Olly and his mother. “She felt valued and Olly felt valued. They felt seen, this is going to have an impact on Olly for the rest of his life, because he feels part of the community.”
Olly recalled the moment he saw his new bike: “I couldn’t believe it. I was speechless that my friends, their families and local businesses had done this for me. I will be forever grateful.” Olly will now be able to participate in training and compete in adaptive categories at interschool mountain biking events.
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