Whether it’s your first challenge or your fiftieth, Ride for the Kids is your chance to make every kilometre count for families navigating the waves of childhood brain disorders. This is your hub for how it all works - from setting a goal and tracking your rides to unlocking rewards and seeing the impact you’re making.
How It Works
Ride for the Kids is a month-long virtual cycling challenge held every October to support children with brain illnesses and injuries across Australia. Pedal anywhere, anytime throughout October - on your local roads, in the park with your kids, or at the gym - and turn those kilometres into vital support for Brainwave Australia.
This high-energy event unites riders of all ages and abilities under one inspiring theme: “Together, We Ride.” – and we’d love you to be a part of it.
Step 1
Register
Sign-up online and register for free, then decide how far you’ll ride in October. Choose a personal challenge that motivates you - whether you’re a beginner aiming for 5 km a week, an avid cyclist pushing for 500 km total or part of a bigger cycling team, every effort counts.
Step 2
Ride Your Way
This is a friendly and inclusive month-long virtual challenge, and you’ll ride on your own schedule – anytime, anywhere. Clock your kilometres by biking to work or school, joining weekend group rides, or cycling around your neighbourhood. Every pedal stroke in October counts toward your goal, and it’s even more fun with a team!
Step 3
Share Your Why
Rally support by sharing why you’re riding. Use your personal fundraising page to collect donations from friends, family, and colleagues. You can even approach your workplace to see if they’ll match the money you raise! Every dollar raised goes to Brainwave Australia’s programs and support for families riding the waves of childhood brain disorders.
Step 4
Track & Celebrate
Easily log your rides through our website or connect your fitness app (Strava, Garmin), then watch your kilometres and donations add up. You’ll earn virtual badges as you hit activity milestones, and when you reach certain fundraising levels, you’ll receive exclusive Ride for the Kids gear from the legends at Pedla.
By riding with us this October, you’re turning difficult diagnoses into hope – by funding programs that help families adapt and thrive despite enormous challenges.
Why We Ride – Making an Impact
Did You Know? Every single day, 10 families across Australia hear the words “your child has a brain injury or illness.”
These conditions turn families’ lives upside down, and Brainwave Australia - the only national charity supporting children with brain disorders - has been helping them for over 30 years. By joining Ride for the Kids, you’ll pedal with a purpose: proceeds from your fundraising in Ride for the Kids will fund crucial services like therapy, hospital equipment, family camps and emergency support for kids living with brain injuries, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, stroke, and other brain-related disorders.
When you participate in Ride for the Kids, you’re not only challenging yourself – you’re changing lives. Brainwave Australia currently supports over 1,600 children with brain disorders, and their families, across the country.
Your Fundraising in Ride for the Kids Enables Brainwave to:
Support Families When They Need It:
A child’s brain disorder can be devastating for a family, emotionally and financially. The funds you raise will help our Hospital Assistance Program. This provides families with Bear Essential Packs, full of comfort and care items, during unexpected hospital stays, and even access to emergency accommodation so families can be close to the hospital.
"We were thrown into a scary new world, where hard decisions needed to be made and emotions were running high. Then, we were informed about Brainwave and given a [Bear Essentials] backpack...I guess it was the first time we didn’t feel so alone."
Brooke Z, Brainwave Mum
Equip and Empower Kids:
Your support will help purchase specialised equipment like mobility aids, therapy tools, and communication devices, as well as healthcare equipment so children can be safely discharged home. Donations also fund vital therapy sessions (physio, occupational therapy, speech) that are out of reach for many of our families facing financial hardship and also waiting for the NDIS.
"It has been a challenge for us financially with the unexpected costs an unwell child incurs. [Brainwave's] generosity has enabled us to access an invaluable tool to help Daniel, given peace of mind for us as parents and increased quality time as a family"
Karen, Brainwave Mum
Create Opportunities for Joy and Connection:
Brainwave runs inclusive family camps, family days, parent groups and Christmas parties so kids can enjoy being kids, and parents and siblings find support among those with lived experiences. By riding, you ensure these inclusive events (like Camp Brainwave and Luna Park Christmas parties) continue to spread joy and create spaces where Brainwave families feel seen, supported and uplifted with hope.
"Brainwave does more than facilitating social connections, this organisation helps families build a village on a very lonely journey. We are forever grateful for the love and support we have received—we certainly would not be the same without your help"
Gaëlle, Brainwave Mum
Fuel Ongoing Hope:
Every kilometre you ride and dollar you raise is an investment in a brighter future for a child. It’s proof to these families that they’re not alone - an entire community is riding alongside them. Together, we ride to give all kids the childhoods they deserve, full of hope, laughter, and possibility.
"Brainwave, you have given me more than a gift, you have given me a better quality of life. I could never thank you enough."
Patrick, Brainwave Dad
Earn Rewards & Badges as You Ride and Fundraise
You’re doing something amazing and we want to celebrate it! We’ve teamed up with iconic cycling brand Pedla to bring you exclusive Ride for the Kids merchandise, as a thank-you for your incredible fundraising efforts.
Here’s how to unlock yours:
Receive a donation
Receive a donation within 48 hours of signing up and we’ll send you a Ride for the Kids Musette!
Raise $100
Earn a custom Ride for the Kids Water Bottle!
Raise $500
Receive the official Pedla Ride for the Kids Cycling Jersey!
Raise $1,000
Become a Ride for the Kids Champion and receive a commemorative cowbell to ring loud (and proud!)
When people join team
When 5 people join your team, everyone scores a Ride for the Kids cycling cap (up to a maximum of 10 caps per team)!
As you hit key milestones throughout the challenge, you’ll unlock digital badges in your Ride for the Kids dashboard. Expect badges for things like First Donation Received, Halfway to Your KM Goal, 3 Team Members, Shared on Social Media and more. These badges will help guide you through the challenge and ensure you get the most out of it – and you can wear these badges like a ‘badge of honor’.
Supercharge Your Fundraising with Giving Day Power-Ups
Mark your calendar for two incredible Giving Days (exact date TBA) during the challenge
For 24 hours during each Giving Day, we’ll have a special donation matching campaign thanks to generous sponsors. This means - every dollar you raise in those 24 hours will be matched by our sponsor, to double your impact! It’ll be a perfect push to up your fundraising and hit that next milestone. Our first Giving Day will kick off in early October, and it is being proudly sponsored by Intrepid Travel.
In the lead-up to and throughout October, we’ll also run fun mini-challenge prize draws. We’ll let you know when they are running, so make sure you watch our socials and keep an eye on your emails. There’ll be chances to win $200 99 Bikes Vouchers, a range of Knog Gear and more.
Resources to Help You Ride
We’re creating everything you need to make your Ride for the Kids experience smooth, fun and impactful.
Coming Soon
FAQs & Support
Need a hand? You’re not alone. Browse our most frequently asked questions below or click View All to see our full set of FAQs, or get in touch with our team for extra support.
How do I register?
Registering is easy and free! Just head to rideforthekids.org.au/register, choose whether you’re riding solo or with a team, and follow the steps to set up your fundraising page. You’ll be ready to ride in just a few minutes.
Do I have to pay to participate?
Nope - it’s completely free to take part in Ride for the Kids. There's no registration fee, and every dollar you raise goes directly to support over 1,600 Brainwave families across Australia.
Can I join as part of a team?
Yes! You can join an existing team or create your own during registration. Riding as a team is a great way to stay motivated, ride for a shared goal and celebrate your impact together.
How do I log my kilometres?
You can track your ride by connecting your fitness app (like Strava, Garmin, Fitbit or Apple Health), or by manually logging your kilometres in your Ride for the Kids dashboard. Every ride counts!
What apps can I connect to track my ride?
You can connect Strava, Garmin to your Ride for the Kids account. Our App Connection Guide will walk you through the steps. View it here.
Can I log indoor cycling or gym rides?
Absolutely. Whether you’re riding outdoors, at the gym, or on a stationary bike at home, you can log those kilometres. When using a stationary bike you’ll need to log your kilometres manually, which is easy. Simply log into your Fundraising Page and add the kilometres you’ve ridden manually. We only record full kilometres, so feel free to round your riding kilometres to the nearest kilometre when entering.
How do I ask people to support me?
Start by sharing your personal reason for riding on your fundraising page. Then use our email and social templates to ask friends, family and colleagues to donate or join your ride. You can also print and display some posters around your workplace. Remember, people are more likely to give when they know your “why.”
What happens if I hit a fundraising milestone?
Each time you hit a fundraising milestone, you’ll unlock an exclusive reward - like a water bottle, a musette, or even premium Pedla gear designed just for this event. Raise $1,000 and you’ll become a Ride for the Kids Champion, complete with you very own cowbell to ring loud and proud! Along with your physical rewards, you'll also receive digital badges and a big cheer from the Brainwave community!
We’ll be sending your rewards via Australia Post to the address you listed when you signed up. If you need to make any changes to your registered address, please send us an email events@brainwave.org.au
When does the challenge start and end?
Ride for the Kids runs from 1–31 October 2025. You can start collecting donations as soon as you register and starting logging kilometres ridden from 1st October 2025. Your first fundraising milestones can even be reached before the ride starts, so you many even be wearing all the exclusive gear and ready to roll from 1st October! Any kilometres logged prior to 1st October will be deleted at midnight on 30th September, to ensure we all start at 0km on October 1st.
Where does the money go?
Funds raised through Ride for the Kids go directly to Brainwave Australia, the only national charity supporting children with brain illnesses and injuries, and their families.
Brainwave relies on donations to provide its vital support, which includes tailored information and advice, peer connection, therapy and equipment funding, and family-focused activities.
Your ride helps fund critical therapy and equipment needed for a child to be discharged from hospital and continue treatment at home. It also supports in-hospital care and activities that connect parents and siblings for long-term support.
Today, Brainwave supports over 1,600 families nationwide. With more families approaching Brainwave Australia each week and registrations doubling over the last three years, your support is vital so they can continue enabling children with brain disorders, and their families, to live their best lives.
Contact Support : events@brainwave.org.au
Media & Highlights
See the challenge in action, share the story, and explore how far the Ride for the Kids community has come.
- Videos & Reels
- PR Coverage & Articles
- Campaign Photo Gallery
- Press Kit
Want to see the ride in action? Follow @ride_for_the_kids and explore our ambassador and rider stories.
