Anna Meares has made her retirement tribute a call to arms as the Australian cycling legend rallies support for seriously-ill coach Gary West.
He is fighting motor neurone disease and they have launched the Cycling Cares campaign to raise funding and awareness.
Meares paid a tearful tribute to West on Friday night at the Cycling Australia annual awards dinner.
She retired last month and a segment of the Melbourne function was set aside to honour one of Australian cycling's greatest careers.
Meares said West, who coached her for the last eight years, and long-time manager Francine Pinnuck were two of the biggest reasons for her success.
She said West had been like a father and pledged her support as he battles the illness, which is fatal.
Former AFL coach Neale Daniher has the same condition and he has become the Australian face of the campaign to find a cure.
"We were uncompromising in our approach - we are a great team," Meares said of West.
"But this team now faces a new challenge, one of a very different level. MND.
"At the end of this challenge there will be no medals, no championships."
West attended the awards dinner, despite having great difficulty with his speech because of the disease.
"I will support him and his family through this illness and be his voice when he can't speak and his face when he can't confront it," Meares said.
"Gary wanted to come up here tonight to say a few words, but as you can understand it's very difficult."
Australian Sports Commission chairman John Wylie was at the dinner and he was moved to make a personal $10,000 donation on the night to Cycling Cares.
"I don't ordinarily do this in public, but what you're trying to do with Cycling Cares is remarkable," Wylie said.
"There are a lot of people in this room who have a few bucks and it would be fantastic if we could raise $100,000 coming out of this dinner."
It was an emotional night, with BMX star Sam Willoughby thanking the sport for its support in a video message.
Willoughby is paralysed from the chest down following a post-Rio training accident.
"Your support has been heard loud and clear - it inspires me to get out there every day and work harder," he said.
The major award winner was Mat Hayman, who took out the Oppy medal as cyclist of the year for his stirring Paris-Roubaix triumph.
It was a dream season for the 38-year-old and he also finished the Tour de France for the first time.
"For some reason, it all came together (this year) and it's been truly special and I'm a bit lost for words," he said.
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