An 82-year-old bike rider who cycled 3,300 miles (5,300km) across Australia to raise money for charity has died a day after completing the challenge.
Bob Montgomery’s death was “unexpected” but “peaceful”, his family said in a statement on social media, just a day after he had finished what he had dubbed “One Last Ride” from Broome in Western Australia to Bowral, south-west of Sydney.
He and his 18-year-old grandson had raised about A$105,000 ($74,000; £55,000) for a motor neuron disease (MND) charity with the six-week ride.
It was his sixth fundraising ride in support of MND NSW, the statement said, adding that it was “a cause that was deeply personal to him”.
His wife of 59 years, Jenny was by his side during his “peaceful passing”, his family said, adding that he was “still passionately sharing his message only hours before his passing.”
Montgomery and his grandson Tom Malcolm had arrived in Bowral on Sunday to “roaring applause” from his local community, the national broadcaster ABC reported.
He told ABC he had been motivated by meeting people along the way and enjoying a “beer or two” at each stopover.
“There’s so many stories and so many people we met along the way who put their hands into their pockets to throw some cash in, which is fantastic,” Montgomery was quoted as saying.
He had been inspired to take on the challenge after losing a cousin to MND and had raised almost A$300,000 on his previous rides. “I have seen family and friends suffer. It’s heart breaking,” he wrote on his fundraising page.
Malcolm had continued onto Sydney on Monday where the family had gathered once again to celebrate.
But shortly after the party, Montgomery suffered a medical episode, MND NSW chief executive Liam O’Meara said.
O’Meara said he was “deeply saddened” by Montgomery’s death, calling him a “cherished friend and tireless supporter of MND NSW”.
Source: BBC
