New Zealand is a land of outdoorsy-ness and extreme sports.
Mountain biking, hiking (tramping), bungee jumping (first bungee jump was in
Queenstown, NZ!), paragliding, sky diving, the list goes on. Marathons, iron
man races, and long cycle trips are also popular. During both trips to the
South Island, I noted an impressive number of brave souls who were cycling the
Island. I enjoy a nice bike ride now and then, but I am definitely not hardcore
enough to try something like that.
However, a couple of my co-workers have taken on such a
challenge. Two brave ladies (who happen to be sisters) from our Customer Services
team, along with their father and one sister’s partner are cycling from the top
of New Zealand to the bottom!
They have titled their journey “A Ride to Remember.” It is
in memory of a recently deceased family member who suffered from dementia and
is raising money for Alzheimer’s research. They are also dedicating specific
days of the journey to individuals. An example is a day they will ride in
memory of the grandmother of a campground manager they have communicated with
regarding accommodation.
The journey is 2,300 kilometres long (1,430 miles), and will
take 28 days. It was intended to be 26, but due to road closures from the
November Kaikoura earthquake, there is a two day detour. They started March 1
from Cape Reinga. Today they have a 92km ride from Turangi to Taihape. They
will end in Bluff, Invercargill on March 28. The average length of a daily ride
is about 100 km (62 miles). I don’t know about you, but for me that is a long
ways to go on a bicycle when you factor in the curvy, hilly terrain of most New
Zealand roads, as well as the potential for wind, rain, and flat tires.
The riders will be accompanied by a support vehicle, staffed
by another sister and their mother, carrying camping gear, etc. Due to impressive planning over the past year,
they have been able to organize sponsorship for riding gear, rental fees of the
van used for the support vehicle, and camping areas.
Some days they will have a bit of company from locals who
ride with them for a ways as they pass through. Two other co-workers away last
week for a meeting on the other side of the island were stopped at a roundabout.
They spotted the riders so pulled off for a chat and some moral support. They
have also met some of the linemen across the island that they regularly
communicate with at work; certainly a unique way to have a face to face
meeting!
I am amazed by what this family has chosen to do and think
of them each day, hoping they are having fine weather and easy riding. For more
information, visit the links below.
The fundraising goal is $20,000, in part through their
Givealittle page: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/ridetoremember
News story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/88660294/Ride-to-Remember-for-Alzheimers
Alzheimers NZ webpage for their ride: http://www.alzheimers.org.nz/regions/wellington/news/ride-to-remember-(1)
