Mark Gunter was one of Australia’s leading cycling photographers. He photographed for every cycling website and magazine in Australia.

He ventured as far as he could as freelance photog — to the USA, Asia, TdF, Giro, UK races, New Zealand — and had his work published in many overseas sites and magazines too.

He was at the epitome of his career when – wait for it, here’s come the sad bit – the worst thing imaginable happened.

In one week, Mark went from photographing in New York (aha, we lived in New York for my work) to a diagnosis of late stage oesophageal cancer.  Non curable cancer…..

Wow – well I used some other expletives as well as ‘Wow’, I can tell you that for sure!

Just four months later, Mark was gone.

That was 7 years ago yesterday — yes yesterday. Mark & I had a son Lucas; he is now 8 years old…. Lucas was only 11 months old when Mark was diagnosed and 15 months when he died.  Wow. I know.

He’s never had his Dad around to kick a soccer ball, to tackle, to teach hm, to listen to those ‘Dad’ jokes, or take him skiing, or cycling, or out into the surf.

He’s lived without his Dad his whole memorable life, so all he has is Mark’s story.

It’s real. Everyday….. especially for Lucas.

I was his wife.

And I’m doing everything I can to keep the memory of him – his kind and compassionate way, his talent, and his presence in the cycling world – alive.

At the Tour Down Under in 2016, just a month after Mark died, I had wanted to do something special. Some way to show Mark’s work and let his passion live, but I didn’t know what.

I had a few conversations with photographers, and in particular one with Graham Watson, as Mark did quite a bit of work for Graham overseas.  And then later that year, Wade from Cyclingtips had had a similar idea. And so the awards began.

I run the annual photography competition in Mark’s name to raise money for cancer research, and to give young cyclists worldwide a leg up in this expensive sport. And we live to give photographers — especially those in the Amateur category trying to make the leap — a platform to show their work. And he most important reason — to give Lucas something special to hold onto, to know about his Dad, and to be a part of.

Together with the help of our promoter, our prize sponsor, and you, we can achieve our purpose.

The more entries… the more money we raise for cancer research… and the less children that need to grow up without their Dad (or Mum).

Leeanne