Ayton, 46, will be alongside around 30 riders and 21 crew members on the gruelling six-day journey, from January 11 to January 16.
This will be Ayton’s second year in the HNF Bike Ride, and although he’s no stranger to endurance events, having competed with Shepparton’s triathlon, running and cycling clubs for decades, he doesn’t describe himself as a fitness freak.
“I wish I was,” he said with a laugh.
Ayton said he had been riding 300 km to 400 km a week in the lead-up to the charity ride.
“It’s been exceptionally hot this year, so training has been difficult,” he said.
“But what we do in terms of the 840 km over six days means nothing compared to what some of these kids put up with in their daily lives.
“If I can put myself out of my comfort zone for under a week, I think that’s a pretty small price to pay.”
Ayton, who has competed in Kialla Lakes triathlons and half marathons since 2005, is a life member of the Shepparton Triathlon Club.
He was president too, but stepped down recently to focus on his work as manager of business and strategy at non-for-profit organisation Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project.
Ayton also worked at National Australia Bank in finance and insurance.
But since 2016 the Lighthouse Project has steadily shifted his focus away from the big bank and towards helping young people in need.
Ayton said the penny-drop moment for a career change came in early 2019, when he continually called up with ideas to the point where they offered him a job.
“We (the company) identified that young people in Shepparton aren’t doing as well as they could,” he said.
“I’m really happy here.”
This year, the HNF riding team aim to raise $150 000; since beginning in 2014, they’ve collected more than $440 000.
The funding goes towards programs for healthy nutrition and education for young people in Australia and New Zealand.
Additionally, the funding goes towards charities in each state and New Zealand.
This includes the Lighthouse Foundation in Victoria, which provides homeless young people with a home, sense of family and around-the-clock therapeutic care.
Despite extreme weather conditions in both Victoria and South Australia, Ayton said they have ridden regardless of heat previously, and he doesn’t think it’ll stop them this time.
“It’s safety first, without a doubt,” he said.
“But last year’s edition had us riding from 46-degree heat to a day of hailing in Strathalbyn.”
“The stages are set and you just ride to the conditions.”
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