From breaking her back in a skiing accident to completing a gruelling 844km bike ride through New Zealand, Caitlin O’Grady won’t let life just pass her by.
Her cousin, Conor, was only 17 when he lost his 13-year battle with neuroblastoma cancer, and she realised that what she suffered from her back injury would have been a drop in the ocean compared with what Conor had to endure in terms of the pain and despair at the lack of time he had to complete his dreams.
That’s when she decided to take his spirit on her next adventure and show him a part of the world that he’d always yearned to see. Thus, the ride for Conor, cancer and life was born.
Back from her ride and after staging an exhibition of her photographs at The Nook Gallery, Caitlin spoke to Frankly Frankston about her impressive feat.
“When I looked back just after finishing, I was overwhelmed. Just seeing the rocky roads and mountains that I, an amateur cyclist, had somehow cycled through. And I was utterly overwhelmed with the support that I gained.”
Caitlin added that she’d had a lot of time to think on that bike, and grieved for everyone that she’d lost.
Scenery played such an important part, not just for the photographer side of her but also the side that was eager to soak up every inch of what life offers. “When you cycle it, you can really feel it - for every rock, for every climb, for every smell, just to take it all in for what it’s worth.”
Ambitious Caitlin reflects that her show was great, even though her photographs weren’t as good as she’d hoped because of the unpredictable and crazy weather. Of course, shooting with analogue also had its restrictions; each shot is precious with film, unlike digital where you can take 100 shots of one subject then choose the best later. “You wait for the perfect moment,” she says.
She’s in awe of the response and the support she received from sponsors and the public, selling more than 15 prints and raising an additional $3500 for The Conor Foley Neuroblastoma Cancer Research Foundation to add to the $10,000 raised by the ride itself.
Six months after her ride, this courageous and inspiring young woman is considering doing it again - possibly somewhere new, like Iceland - but this time around perhaps just to test her own capabilities.
Never stopping, Caitlin has now put her creative energy into starting a new creative agency called ‘DESFURA’ with Hayden O’Neill and is working on a few music video clips while she finishes her Fine Art Degree at VCA.
She adds bravely: “Pushing your mentality and physicality is so interesting and kind of addictive.”
If you’d like to donate or read more about Conor’s story, visit www.chuffed.org/project/rideforconor