Snowy winner collects

Last year’s Snowy Ride for charity was a big success as usual, and the winner of the main prize has recently collected it.

Honda takes up the story: Elisa Wingate may still be hopping around town on her Honda 250cc motorcycle, but that won't stop her from enjoying her new acquisition, a GL1800 Goldwing, won at the annual Snowy Ride last November.

The 26-year-old administrator and part-time student was in a state of "mild shock" on hearing the news that she had won the celebrated touring machine worth approximately $40,000.

The bemused Port Melbourne resident said, "I ride a CB250 currently which is a tad bit smaller than the Goldwing.

"But my partner has a CBR1000RR Fireblade and he can take me for spins for now on the Wing so we are both very happy.

"I only got my permit early last year and really enjoyed going on the Snowy Ride. The organisers did a fantastic job getting it all together and it is for a very worthy and touching cause."

Honda is the major sponsor for the annual Snowy Ride, an event that aims to raise funds for the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA).

The first event was launched in 2001 as a request from Steve Walter, a young man who lost his fight against cancer.

Steve loved motorcycle riding and asked that a charity motorcycle ride be organised to raise funds for cancer research and cancer care, "So that one day no other kid will have to go through what I've been through".

It has now raised over $1.3 million for the CCIA.

Thousands of motorcyclists participate in the ride each year which converges on the town of Thredbo for a weekend of socialising in the name of the worthy cause.

In addition to the Goldwing, Honda also gave away a CBR1000RR. For information on next year's ride, go to: www.snowyride.com.au