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ABOUT PATTO
Patrick Coombes was a funny, cheeky little redhead who his immediate and extended family adored. Many are the tales of Patto bringing them to tears of laughter. He lived on a dairy farm in Manilla (near Tamworth) with his mum and dad, Emma (nee Everingham) and Richard Coombes and big sister, Olivia. In 2013, when he was 4 years old he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. 6 months later he was gone. How do you heal from that?
In their darkest hours and days, when their world was crumbling as they watched Patto fight and then succumb to this devastating illness. They were Bear Cottage, The Kids’ Cancer Project, Ronald McDonald House and Little Wings.
Patto’s maternal Grandfather was devastated. He was lost without his little mate and felt he had to give something back. So the family organised two huge Pedal for Pat fundraising bike rides in 2014 and 2015, to raise money for these amazing charities. First they rode uphill from Wauchope to Manilla (so incredibly hard!) and then in 2015 downhill from Manilla to Wauchope (slightly less hard!), raising almost $100,000 in the process.
“They made what was already a difficult time a little easier to handle and it was incredibly healing for our family to be able to hand the donations over and know that that money will be able to help other families in need.” said Rod.
But that’s not enough for Rod. He can’t let Patto’s memory die and he’s not getting any younger. He wants one last ditch marathon effort in Patto’s memory.
Pedal for Pat 2021. 1,400 kilometres for the little boy whose giggle lit Rod up, whose laugh opened his heart, whose grin melted his cares away. This time for
and
Who soothed this suffering family, who made the impossible that little bit easier, who held hands and hearts, who helped them all navigate this treacherous terrain.
