Coonamble was treated to Australian Olympic gold an Monday 18 March as cyclists rode in to raise funds for Macquarie Home Stay.

The facility provides low-cost accommodation for people in the Western Plains getting medical treatment in Dubbo, including people travelling from Coonamble. 

Professional cyclist Brad McGee, who won gold in 2004 in Athens, admitted he didn't think it through when he was asked to join the ride.

"I didn't ask any questions, I didn't realise we were doing so many kilometres," he said.

Brad said that puts things into perspective. 

"The distance is a big part of what we're trying to overcome here, so by actually putting ourselves through those kilometres on the bike it sort of all marries in really nicely."

Two Olympic cycling gold medallists Brad McGee and Sarah Carr have joined the Tour de OROC this year.

Cyclists arrived in Coonamble from Dubbo around 3pm on 18 March, ending the first leg of the six-day Tour de OROC, which will span almost 650km. 

Ben O'Brien Chairman of the tour's Organising Committee said the ride is aiming to raise fund for 24 new bedrooms to the facility.  

"We've got a lofty target of a quarter of a million dollars this year. It's still not a lot in terms of comparison with how much you need to build a facility," Mr O'Brien said. "But this money is extremely important because it helps us when we're going to get more funding from the state and federal government. 

"It's shows very good community support and when the government says there's community support, they're very willing then to put their funds behind it."  

"We're travelling around the areas and the communities that are the biggest users of the Home Stay."

"Tomorrow [Tuesday] we're going to Walgett, and the Shire of Walgett is the second biggest user in terms of numbers of people going through the home stay in the whole of the western region, but also communities like Mudgee."

"Coonamble a little bit less so because you're a little bit closer to Dubbo, but still there quite a few people come from this area." 

Nuclear Medicine Technologist Jennifer Walters and Radiation Therapist Catherine Osborne of the Western Cancer Centre Dubbo were in Coonamble to speak about the benefits Macquarie Homestay provides to their patients.

At a fundraising dinner at the Terminus Hotel on Monday evening, Brad was joined by fellow Olympian Sara Carrigan, who also won cycling gold at the 2004 games for the women’s road race. 

The bike riders and their support crew dined with members of local service clubs and charities, including Coonamble Cancer Survival Group, and two staff from the Western Cancer Centre in Dubbo.

Radiation Therapist Catherine Osborne and Nuclear Medicine Technologist Jennifer Walters joined the first night fundraising dinner. Catherine is from Dubbo while Jennifer grew up near Carinda so could speak first hand of the role of their service in saving lives of regional people.

The Western Cancer Centre's Radiation Oncology service provides access to world-class equipment and specialist clinicians and the Macquarie Homestay makes the service more accessible to the wider region by providing accommodation for patients, carers and families throughout their cancer journey.

"Travel and accommodation are a huge financial, physical and emotional burden for patients," Ms Osborne said.

"Seventy per cent of our patients travel more than fifty kilometres to receive treatment at the Western Cancer Centre."

Brad spoke about his cycling and coaching career and how the sport relies on “the magic of the collective” where individual performances are boosted by the support of other riders.

With Coonamble Rotary Club members on hand, attendees tried their luck on the chocolate wheel for prizes including wine, 5 kilograms of cooked prawns and even cycling jerseys signed by Brad and Sara.

So far the Tour de OROC has cracked the $90 000 mark for Macquarie Home Stay.

The Tour de OROC finishes its final leg back in Dubbo on 24 March.