The Steven Walter Foundation (SWF) and Honda Australia celebrated their 10th year of partnership last week at an event to kick off the 2010 fund raising drive for childhood cancer research through the annual Snowy Ride.

The Snowy Ride has raised more than $2.8 million for the cause, and is one of the largest motorcycle fundraising events in the country with more than 3000 riders from across Australia, New Zealand, US and Europe converging upon the picturesque Alpine roads of NSW.

The launch event, held in Sydney and involving a number of high profile guests from the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA) as well as the media, was an opportunity to announce Honda’s further five year commitment to the Snowy Ride.

“Honda Australia has been the major sponsor of the Snowy Ride since day one and we are truly grateful for their further commitment of $100,000 per annum over the next five years. Their support has been key to our success” said Mrs Sue Walter, Director of SWF.

Mrs Walter also presented a $100,000 cheque to the CCIA on the night.

“Before my son Steven died from childhood cancer at the just 19 years of age, he asked his family and friends to do everything in their power to prevent what happened to him from happening to anyone else,” Mrs Walter said.

Tragically, three Australian children still die from childhood cancer every week, and those that survive have long term side effects that dramatically affect their quality of life.

Professor Michelle Haber, executive director of CCIA said “We never thought that the SWF’s Snowy Ride event would grow to provide such enormous fundraising support for CCIA.”

“It is only through donations such as this that we are able to pursue our world class research in childhood cancer.”

Honda Australia Director Robert Toscano said, “Working with the Steven Walter Foundation allows us to directly help kids, but it also allows us to involve our community of motorcycle riders as well as to interact with all the local communities who play host to thousand of riders on their way to Thredbo.”

“We could be supporting any one of a number of worthy causes, however we have chosen the Steven Walter Foundation because we have witnessed first-hand how effective the monies raised are at helping to combat one of this country’s most devastating diseases.”

For more information on the Snowy Ride, visit www.snowyride.com.au.