Harden up for Gibb River Challenge

The Croc's Nathan Harden ready to raise funds for our "triple zero heroes" in the Gibb River Challenge.

JABIRU'S Nathan Harden is about to swap one outback paradise for another, travelling from Kakadu to the Kimberleys for the 2016 Gibb River Road Mountain Bike Challenge in May.

The Food and Beverage Manager at the Mercure Crocodile Hotel says he’s looking forward to catching up with friends from Perth and Broome at the event.

“There is a six-person posse of us heading off to ride 700km in five days,” Nathan said. “Friends from Broome rang me and said they needed an extra person, and I said sure, why not, I’ve never pushbiked from Derby to Kununurra before.”

He said they named their team The Rear Enders “because most likely we’ll be bringing up the rear”.

The Gibb Challenge is a socially competitive team relay event that raises funds for charity.

“This year we’re raising money for a charity called Sirens of Silence, an organisation set up to support emergency service people when they are in need, after major incidents, for example after the bushfires that happened in WA this year,” Nathan said. “We’ve got a lot of firemen, policemen and emergency staff here in Kakadu who could potentially use this service, so it’s a good cause.”

The Croc is supporting Nathan in the event with time off work, a financial donation, and fundraising activities.

“We have donation jars on the bar, and we have charity events coming up like Pancake Day, with drive-through pancakes at the front of The Croc,” Nathan said.

Having just taken delivery of a new mountain bike, Nathan says he will see how he goes with training in Jabiru for the relay ride.

“We’re not going in it for the competition side of it, we’re in it for the fun, enjoying the mateship of it all, and raising some funds for some good charities. The ride in itself is enough of an achievement, getting to see the Kimberley on dirt roads, and meeting people who are doing great things for charity.”

The Gibb Challenge leaves from the deep port Kimberley town of Derby to the world-acclaimed El Questro Wilderness Park, with overnight camping at Imintji Community, Mount Elizabeth Station, Ellenbrae Station, Home Valley Station and El Questro.

“We’ll have a big wrap-up at El Questro, where I’m sure there will be a few sore bottoms, blisters and battle scars,” Nathan said.

The Gibb Challenge runs from 15-19 May.

To help with Nathan’s fundraising, visit his GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/7btejeuk