www.lymphoma.org.au

Opera2Parliament (O2P) is now an annual, fun bike ride aimed to raise awareness of Lymphoma, our number one blood cancer and to provide a fun (330km) challenge to all participants and supporters. This year O2P will again start at the Sydney Opera House and will finish at the bright lights of Parliament House in Canberra, with sleepovers in the beautiful country towns of Mittagong and Goulburn as riders and supporters enjoy good company and comradeship along the way.

So how did this ride come about?

In March 2011 three friends; Jovan, Igor and Nikola decided to cycle from Sydney to Canberra purely for the challenge. However, just days before the ride, Jovan was diagnosed with Stage 3 Follicular Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. His resilience and a desire to increase awareness about this cancer meant that the plans for a bike ride continued but with a mission to increase awareness and support for our number one blood cancer.

Seventeen family and friends surrounded Jovan in a strong show of support and joined in the inaugural ride to create the Opera2Parliament (O2P) 2011 event. O2P was challenging and lots of fun but most importantly, it showed Australians affected by Lymphoma that they are not alone.

Due to overwhelming interest , Opera2Parliament will be held again in 2012. The 2011 02P journey raised $28,000 but 2012 will be bigger, better and full of inspiration, hope and passion to make a Lymphoma difference.