Chris Beecham Sinnamon Park, QLD Australia Amazon Heart Thunder Australia 2006 Rider

My name is Chris Beecham and I was born at Vegetable Creek in 1955. Emmaville, as it is now known is a small mining community and is now well known for it Mining Museum. It is also regarded as possibly the first town in Australia to have private health care for its residents. The mine workers all contributed to a fund to build a hospital and pay for a local doctor to serve the community.

My family later moved to Ashford where I grew up and went to school, later finishing my schooling in Inverell. Like many country kids I rode through the bush on motor bikes with my brothers and friends.

I trained as a registered nurse at Glen Innes, NSW and following the completion of my training in 1976 I became an operating theatre nurse. I loved the work and travelled and worked in NSW, VIC, TAS and QLD and London. In 1999 I completed a Degree in Health Science at the Southern Cross University, NSW. I now work as a clinical Products Coordinator for Uniting HealthCare, QLD where I use my nursing knowledge daily.

My husband, Vern and I were married in Brisbane in 1989. We have a continuing love of travel both in Australia and overseas. We have encouraged our daughters to travel and we hope that this travel bug will influence our six grandchildren to appreciate travelling.

Our interests are sea kayaking, photography, camping, food and wine. We have paddled the Whitsunday Passages and the waters of south east Queensland in our sea kayaks.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2005 after I found a suspicious area in my breast that was causing some pain. I went to my doctor immediately, I did not think it was anything sinister but I knew I should have it checked out by the experts.

I was so shocked and surprised when I was diagnosed with cancer. I thought it would never happen to me. After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy I now find myself 12 months on from the nightmare and now feel ready to make the most of the rest of my life.

My family and friends all helped me through this difficult time. The wonderful support I received from the volunteers and professional health care workers during my diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer inspired me to want to give something back. However I wanted to do something that was challenging to me personally, assist with fund raising and set an example for our daughters and grandchildren.

The opportunity I have to ride in the 2006 Amazon Heart Thunder has reintroduced me to motorbike riding and lead me to obtain my motorbike licence. I am looking forward to sharing the experience with the other participants and I am ready to hit the road and achieve these goals.

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