In the vibrant world of property development and philanthropy, Max Beck is a name that is highly respected. At the age of 83, Beck today, remains a dynamic force in community service.

On November 10th, he will once again lead his fellow Bay Riders and walkers and runners in the "Stride or Ride" event, with a target to raise $50,000 for The Portsea Camp. These funds are vital for the camp's infrastructure and wellness programs that support children facing hardships.

Max Beck’s journey with the Bay Riders started 30 years ago in Brighton. Beck recalls the early days, “There was a group of mates that used to run around Dendy Park in Brighton, and at some stage, someone said, ‘do you know a good knee doctor because my knees are packing up’, maybe we should consider bike riding,” he reminisces.

“So, we got on the bikes and were quite nervous with traffic initially. There were only two of us, but then we built the group from there to around 35 guys. We used to have a Clubman Trophy, an annual dinner, quite a big deal. And then I decided to spend more time down the coast and opened a Sorrento chapter with Rob Pitt, one of the local pub owners, and Mark Clavin, the chemist, etc. And we built the Sorrento chapter of the Bay Riders."

What started as a small group of mates has now grown into a formidable force of philanthropy, raising over a million dollars for children’s charities. Their most notable achievement was in 2000 when they cycled from Melbourne to Sydney, raising $500,000 for street kids. “So that was really something. I remember one of our riders when we were at Kalkallo, only 49 k's into the trip asking, ‘how much further,’ I said ‘look don't worry I'm having a bronze statue made of you when you get home so keep going and we got to Sydney. 

“The Group supports each other, “I think it's 50% of the exercise really, the mental health side of it. There's such fantastic support amongst the guys from all sorts of backgrounds, we’ve got a doctor, plumber, a pharmacist, we've got a genius here and there. But as soon as someone has an issue within the group, it's solved within 24 hours. There's lots of suggestions and help. We go out together and we come home together. The slowest rider is our pace, basically,” says Beck. The spirit of giving back to the community, a value that has been the cornerstone of the Bay Riders.

Beck shows no signs of slowing down. Beck Corp, the company he founded, continues to lead the way with developments across Victoria and Queensland. While the next generation has taken the helm, Beck’s guidance remains invaluable. Yet, from day to day, you are more likely to find him on the golf course or his bike, still pedalling 200 kilometres a week.

Stride and Ride for The Portsea Camp: A Lifeline for Children

Established in 1946, The Portsea Camp (formerly the Lord Mayor's Camp) has been a seaside escape for children facing hardships. Since COVID-19, the camp's well-being programs have been in high demand. Sandra Martin, CEO of The Portsea Camp and an experienced psychologist, explains the ongoing psychological effects of COVID on young people.

“Three years post-COVID, we continue to see ripple effects that have left many children and teenagers feeling disconnected and unsure of how to relate to others,” she says. “Support from our community through events like Stride or Ride allows us to raise vital funds to deliver programs that create safe, structured environments where kids can relearn how to collaborate, navigate frustrations, reconnect with others, and work through problems in positive ways.”

Children need our help now more than ever. To donate to make a positive impact in the life of a child at The Portsea Camp click Stride or Ride.

To know more about the vital work of The Portsea Camp, visit website