Burns and Attwell-Gill have set themselves the goal of completing four Ironman races in 2017.

Their warm-up for the May 7 event will require a solid 15-day, 2700-kilometre ride from the South Australian capital to the Hastings.

They will depart on April 21, have labelled it “The Ride 2K17” and it’s all to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer and Pancare foundations.

Burns is a former member of the South Australia Police tactical response group and is no stranger to Ironman, or self-styled endurance events, having previously ridden from Adelaide to Melbourne to raise money for CanTeen and then run a marathon.

“Having worked in a police tactical group for some time where physical fitness training and arduous tasks are part of the daily routine, I was promoted and left this environment,” he said.

“I needed a new challenge and my wife suggested tackling a triathlon. Having not ridden a bike since I was a kid riding a BMX, I went and bought a roadie and completed the Victor Harbour Olympic distance triathlon.

“I then stepped up to Canberra 70.3 and not long after Ironman Cairns was my first full Ironman where I completed in a time of 9:55. I was hooked.”

Attwell-Gill is a 10-time Ironman finisher who is also very familiar with the challenging world of endurance racing.

They both said the motivation for ‘2K17’ was a desire to help others and do things that extended their own boundaries and limits for the benefit of others.

“My mother-in-law, Necia Simmons was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and this ride is in honour of her fighting the disease and all the other women out there fighting the same battle,” Burns said.

“This ride and challenge is going to be tough, but it’s nothing compared to the pain associated with cancer.”

Andrew has a similar reason having lost his father to pancreatic cancer and recently his mother-in-law Maggie and cousin Kelly having battled and beat bowel cancer.

“We will rest our heads in various caravan parks and hotels and enjoy the milestones of reaching Melbourne and Sydney where some riders will depart and others will join the ride group.

Burns said the most arduous day of the ride is midway through the 15-day journey where they will ride near on 220km’s with 3000 plus metres of climbing, having already had seven solid days in the saddle.

“Wind, rain, altitude, road surface and fatigue will need to be managed on a daily basis, knowing full well that when I arrive in Port Macquarie I will need to mentally prepare for an Ironman two days later,” he said.

“Most people will be tapering, as we are banging out 2700 plus kilometres on the bike, so this is not the most traditional Ironman preparation.

“Some people might even say it is madness,” he declared.

Join Wade and Andrew’s Facebook and webpages for Ride 2K17 updates:  https://www.facebook.com/theride2k17/  https://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/the-ride/top_ten

Or to donate: https://the-ride.everydayhero.com/au/wade or https://give.everydayhero.com/au/5-50-500-50000-pancreatic#/?_k=u4lp2e