Tour de Kids

Tour de Kids is Starlight Children's Foundation's premier virtual cycling challenge, designed to bring hope and happiness to seriously ill children in Australian hospitals. This FREE-to-enter fundraising event invites cyclists of all levels to participate during October, choosing a distance that suits their fitness and availability. Whether you ride solo, with family, friends, or your workplace team, Tour de Kids creates a supportive community united by a powerful cause: making hospital stays brighter for sick kids.

What makes Tour de Kids special is its flexibility and inclusivity. There are no entry fees, no qualifying times, and no distance minimums. You set your own challenge—ride 50km, 100km, or 500km over the month, whatever works for you. Track your kilometres using Strava integration to connect with other riders and watch your progress accumulate. As you ride, you'll earn exclusive virtual badges and limited-edition merchandise while knowing every dollar raised goes directly to Starlight programs that bring joy and distraction to hospitalised children.

Starlight Children's Foundation has been bringing smiles to sick kids for over 30 years. Their Starlight Express Rooms in major Australian hospitals offer kids a bright, welcoming space filled with games, crafts, art, and video games—a sanctuary away from the stress and uncertainty of medical treatment. Tour de Kids fundraising directly supports these programs and helps Starlight expand access to more hospitals and more children. When you ride for Tour de Kids, you're not just exercising; you're making a tangible difference in a child's hospital journey.

How to participate is simple. Sign up at tourdekids.org.au today—registration is completely free. Once registered, you'll get access to the exclusive Tour de Kids riders' hub where you can customise your personal fundraising page, set your cycling target, and connect your Strava account to automatically log your kilometres. Invite your mates, family members, or colleagues to join as a team. Group participation makes the challenge more social and often boosts fundraising, as shared experiences inspire shared giving.

Throughout October, ride at your own pace. Complete your challenge gradually over the month, or knock it out in a few epic sessions—it's entirely up to you. The riders' hub lets you monitor your progress, see how your team is tracking, and stay motivated by community updates. As you accumulate kilometres and fundraising dollars, you'll unlock virtual badges recognising your achievement. Plus, you're in the running to win an Ultimate Cycling Kit valued at $1,600, with prizes drawn from all participants who register.

Tour de Kids welcomes cyclists of all abilities. Whether you're a competitive cyclist, a casual weekend rider, or someone returning to cycling after a break, there's a challenge level for you. Families can participate together, workplaces can form teams for corporate wellness, and clubs can use it as a community fundraiser. The beauty of a virtual event is that you ride in your own community, at times that suit your schedule, on routes you choose—and all in the service of children who need it most.

The impact of Tour de Kids is deeply personal. Meet Edwin, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at age three. During his grueling chemotherapy and hospital stays, Starlight's Express Room became a bright spot in his journey, giving him something to look forward to even on his hardest days. His dad Anthony says: "Without Starlight, hospital would have been much more difficult. The Starlight Express Room brought a lot of smiles and laughs and gave Edwin something to look forward to even when he wasn't feeling his best." Tour de Kids funds these moments of joy for children like Edwin across Australia.

This October, join thousands of riders supporting Starlight. Sign up now at tourdekids.org.au, set your cycling distance, and start riding for sick kids. Whether you're riding solo to smash your personal best, with family and friends for camaraderie, or with your workplace team for corporate wellness, you're making hospital a happier place. Every kilometre counts. Every dollar raised matters. Get on board Tour de Kids and help Starlight bring joy to children when they need it most.