The Ride That Changed Everything

“I cycled into Home Hug for the first time, and I was completely blown away,” Steve recalls. “It wasn’t about how much or how little the kids had—it was the sheer joy they radiated.” The moment that stayed with him most? Sitting cross-legged in a circle, being handed small handmade gifts by the children while “What the World Needs Now” by The Carpenters played softly in the background. That memory, that feeling, it became something he would seek to recreate on every visit.

Since that first encounter, Steve has completed seven rides for Hands and is preparing for his eighth and ninth. But what makes his story even more powerful is that this journey has never been a solo one. Steve has shared the ride, and the experience, with two of his children, Tom and Annie. In 2025, he hopes to complete the circle by riding with his eldest son, Oliver.

“There’s nothing quite like it,” Steve says. “Sharing a room, debriefing after a long day on the bike, experiencing the highs and lows together, it’s hard to describe. But it bonds you in a way that’s unforgettable.”

More than a charity ride, Hands has become part of Steve’s identity. It keeps him fit, keeps him focused, and most of all, it keeps him human. “The commitment to ride each year gives me a reason to train, to stay healthy. But it’s more than that. It’s the community. The shared purpose. The opportunity to give back in a way that feels real.”

Some of Steve’s most unforgettable moments have come from these rides. Like the time he rode alongside a young boy, barefoot, resilient, never once complaining despite the painful blisters covering his feet. “In Australia, we complain at the first sign of discomfort. But this kid, he just got on with it. It was incredibly humbling.”

Or the girl at Home Hug who stood apart, afraid to dance, shrinking back when Steve invited her to join. “It wasn’t me, she had a fear of men, and that broke my heart. But then one of the female riders reached out, and soon they were dancing the night away. That moment, that shift, it reminded me why I keep doing this.”

For Steve, Hands Across the Water is about impact, but not just for the children—it’s a mirror. It’s about becoming a better version of yourself. “Mark Novak once called the ride a ‘human upgrade.’ And he’s right. I see real estate agents come back changed—kinder, more open, more present. That’s what this is about.”

He often reflects on how ego fades on the ride. In a competitive industry, ego can dominate, but out on the road in Thailand, it’s different. “There’s something really powerful about leaving your ego at the door. It’s the only way to make room for something bigger than yourself.”

Steve’s advice to anyone considering the ride? “Do it with your child, if you can. It’s one of the most powerful bonding experiences you’ll ever have. You’ll share more than miles, you’ll share memories that last a lifetime.”

And why should someone support Hands?

“I wouldn’t even frame it as ‘supporting a charity.’ This is about doing something extraordinary for yourself. It’s about feeding your soul. Hands is just the by-product. The real reward is how it changes you.”

Steve Carroll may have started with a cheque, but he found so much more—a community, a purpose, and a brighter future not only for the children at Home Hug, but for his own family as well.