Damien Rider is a multiple world-record-holding adventure and extreme sports athlete who has established himself as one of the world’s fittest endurance athletes. His mission in life is to push himself to the limits whilst inspiring others to achieve greatness, proves him relentless.
On May 9th 2022 Damien climbed from the basket of a hot-air balloon at 10,000 feet above Canowindra, climbing a rope ladder to the top of the balloon where he unbuckled his harness and secured a parachute, fastened at the top, before diving off and falling back towards earth.
“That was epic man, that climb phew,” were Damien’s first words after the stunt.
“Everything I do is always for a cause and I have been overseas while the pandemic was on, but now I have come back to Australia and I really wanted to do something so I partnered up with Preston Campbell’s Foundation to raise a bit of money through Fund My Challenge,” said Damien.
Since retiring from NRL, league legend Preston Campbell has become one of Australia’s most influential sporting ambassadors, working tirelessly as an Ambassador with a huge focus on improving wellbeing. Born from that is the Preston Campbell Foundation where Preston works full-time in a mentoring role. The Foundation works tirelessly to unite communities and provides programs which inspire and mentor participants to achieve their aspirations and dreams by connecting indigenous and non-indigenous peoples with their culture, sense of place and wellbeing.
While Damien put himself through a rigorous training regime in the lead up to the event, in the end, nothing could prepare him for the steep ascent on a rope ladder on a steep angle out from the balloon’s basket.