82-year-old charity cyclist dies day after last heroic ride

Motor neurone disease (MND) advocate Bob Montgomery has died just one day after completing a 5,300-kilometre ride across Australia. The 82-year-old had a medical episode on Monday night while travelling home from a function celebrating his six-week journey. The Bowral man completed five charity bike rides for MND, raising more than $300,000 for research and service support. The celebration of a grandfather's mammoth charity bike ride across Australia for motor neurone disease (MND) has taken a tragic turn. Bob Montgomery has died a day after completing what he called "One Last Ride", a six-week journey that covered almost 5,300 kilometres from Broome in Western Australia to his hometown of Bowral in the New South Wales Southern Highlands. The 82-year-old and his 18-year-old grandson Tom Malcolm were welcomed home on Sunday by dozens of family, friends and well-wishers. MND NSW chief executive Liam O'Meara said Mr Montgomery experienced a medical episode on his way home from a function at Sydney's Rose Bay on Monday. "Tom, Bob's grandson, decided to push the extra 150-odd kilometres from Bowral to Sydney yesterday and we all got together to greet him," he said. "It was a lovely afternoon. We had [former South Sydney Rabbitohs player and MND sufferer] Jai Arrow in attendance ... Bob was just elated. "I received a text last night at 9 o'clock to say he has passed away, which was shocking." Mr Montgomery's wife of 59 years, Jen, told the ABC in a statement that his death was "very peaceful". "He was surrounded by his friends and family and got all of the credit that he absolutely deserved over the past 48 hours," she said. "So we're really, really pleased his last few days on earth were some of the best." Speaking to ABC Illawarra Drive on Monday morning, Mr Montgomery said he was still processing his achievement and the support shown by the community at the finish line. "It was just an amazing afternoon [on Sunday]," he said. "They put on a fantastic feed and the speeches were wonderful. "It was very memorable for sure." Massive stalwart, MND advocate Mr Montgomery clocked up five charity bike rides for MND awareness and research since the death of his cousin from the condition 12 years ago. He raised more than $300,000 for the cause, including a growing $90,000 from his latest venture. "It can't be understated what he has achieved for many years, not just on this ride," Mr O'Meara said. "He's been a massive advocate and stalwart for the MND community. "He didn't have to do any of this. He chose to do it. And I think that's just the mark of the man." MND NSW is now looking to award Mr Montgomery a posthumous accolade and establish a memorial ride in his honour. "He absolutely deserves it and we want to honour his memory," Mr O'Meara said.