On Friday, hundreds of Edmund Rice College students lined the school entrance to pay tribute to a little boy who died last year from a condition so rare it had never been seen before.
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The students cheered as Rio Fowler's courageous father Ryan cycled in through the gates, marking the penultimate stop on a 1900km ride to help other families with terminally ill children.
Mr Fowler has been joined by his brother Chad and friend Lee Morley - the Wollongong college's stage five engagement co-ordinator - on Rio's Ride, from Adelaide to Sydney via Hobart.
The 17-day ride will finish on Saturday, at Manly's Bear Cottage, where 18-month-old Rio passed away in January last year with his father, mother Karen and sister Remi by his side.
The aim of the ride is not only to support Bear Cottage and Australia's other two children's hospices - but to raise enough funds to build at least one hospice in each state.
"Rio went to hospital with what we thought was gastro in November 2017 and he never came home," Mr Fowler said.
"He survived five operations and two amputations only for us to finally be told by doctors that he had a terminal condition they'd never seen before.
"Arterial vasculopathy disease is a condition where his arteries were blocking up so blood couldn't get round his body and it eventually started to shut down."
Mr Fowler said he was initially resistant to Rio going to Bear Cottage, but is forever thankful for the care his son - and the whole family - received there.
"I didn't want to know about palliative care, I didn't want to deal with losing my son," he said. "But Bear Cottage allowed us to be a family again, to share our last Christmas together."
After Rio died in January 15, 2018, his parents set up Rio's Legacy, a charity which has raised over $300,000 towards their goal.
"My boy inspired me. The pain he must have gone through but he showed such resilience and courage that it inspires me every day," Mr Fowler said.
"His life was short but he was here for a reason. So my job now is to champion those children with terminal illness, and the places where families going through the toughest times can look after them."
Mr Fowler works at Scot's College, where he met Edmund Rice College teacher Mr Morley.
He said he was "overwhelmed" at the ongoing support of his friend - and the year-long efforts of the Wollongong students and staff to raise $5000 for the charity.
Mr Morley said: "When Rio passed it hit me like a tonne of bricks. The ride was a great way for me to support Ryan and Karen, and Rio's Legacy.
"I'm very thankful for the support of our students and staff who have held a variety of fundraisers this year."
Donate to the cause at rioslegacy.org.au
