Founded in memory of Adam Smiddy, a talented physiotherapist and triathlete who passed away to an aggressive melanoma aged just 26, Smiling for Smiddy is an organization that combines a love of the sport with an incredible determination to raise funds for cancer research.
Allsports Physiotherapy has sponsored this worthy cause since the inaugural Smiling for Smiddy bike ride from Brisbane to Cairns back in 2005.
Recently, Allsports has extended its support for this worthwhile cause by establishing the inaugural, “Adam Smiddy Memorial 4th Year Clinical Placement Scholarship”. Each year, Allsports sponsors a 4th-year Physiotherapy student from the University of Queensland to travel as a member of the Smiddy support crew on the gruelling eight-day, sixteen hundred kilometre ride to Townsville. To assist with this program, a senior therapist from the Allsports group will not only accompany the student, mentoring them on their journey across Queensland, but also participate in the ride as part of the 50+ team raising funds for this valuable research.
Smiling for Smiddy has grown from one man’s solo bike ride (to find out more, click here) to a community of generous individuals all focused on raising awareness about Adam’s story all over Australia. The campaign has grown from the yearly fundraising ride to Townsville to now incorporate a suite of events including the Sunshine Coast 70.3 in September 2014, the Noosa triathlon and the Middy Smiddy. Allsports Physiotherapy has also expanded its relationship with the Smiddy campaign by providing physiotherapy and sports coverage for team participants in the Mooloolaba 70.3.