A team of riders from Charles Sturt University (CSU), including the Vice-Chancellor, will mount a marathon bike ride for a well-known rural children's health charity.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann will be joined by three academic colleagues to form 'Team CSU' for the 380 kilometre Royal Far West Ride for Country Kids 2016 charity ride from Sunday 28 February to Tuesday 1 March.

Royal Far West is a non-government organisation which provides health services to children living in rural and remote New South Wales. The 2016 ride aims to raise $300 000, and Team CSU hopes to raise $20 000. All donations are tax-deductable and can be made to Professor Vann's donation page.

Forming the CSU peloton with the Vice-Chancellor are Professor Tracey Green, Mr Greg Linsdell, and Mr Johnathan Hewis who are all based at CSU in Port Macquarie. There will be approximately 100 riders in the charity event which tours the NSW Mid North Coast region from Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour via Kempsey, Macksville, Bowraville, and Nambucca Heads.

Professor Vann said, "Royal Far West strives to make an outstanding contribution to children with complex health and behavioural disorders, developmental delays and mental health problems who live in rural and remote areas and cannot access the specialised services they need.

"All the cyclists and I will be attempting to average about 127 kilometres each day, so that effort will justify any donations we receive for this exceptionally worthwhile cause. All proceeds will provide health services to country kids to help them with speech and communication, mental health, oral health, autism spectrum disorders, and overall development."

A Bathurst family that has benefitted from programs offered by Royal Far West is delighted by the coming Team CSU commitment to the Ride for Country Kids 2016.

Mrs Sonia Nunan said, "We faced so many barriers to accessing appropriate therapy for our son Darcy until we discovered the services of Royal Far West. Since then Darcy, now aged four, has made wonderful progress and I can't praise Royal Far West enough.

"The fact that Charles Sturt University, the Vice-Chancellor and academics are providing personal support and contributing to this outstanding rural NSW children's health charity is so commendable. The University has strong academic discipline links to health services for regional Australia, and this is another demonstration of its commitment to the people of rural and regional NSW and Australia."

"Charles Sturt University is very proud to have a team taking part in the 2016 Royal Far West Ride for Country Kids," Professor Vann said. "The University is very much about supporting the people in the communities in which we operate and Royal Far West brings services to local kids like Darcy that would otherwise not be available. Many of the University's health disciplines align with the professional disciplines needed and services offered by Royal Far West. For example, some of our dentistry students also gain valuable experience with Royal Far West during their training."

In addition to the fundraising CSU cyclists, paramedic students from CSU in Port Macquarie will be part of the organisational entourage for the 2016 Ride for Country Kids to provide assistance and clinical support to all riders in the event.

"Our paramedic students are all very engaged with community events and really thrive in these environments," Professor Vann said. "They will be a great addition to the event to provide support along the way."

The popular Australian band The Waifs visited Bathurst this week and while in town signed a guitar for Professor Vann which he will auction as part of the Team CSU fundraising effort.