Legends to cycle Westpac chopper fundraiser
Four Kiwi legends will take on the blistering cold of the deep south next month to raise money for the Westpac Helicopter in Southland.
Renowned broadcaster Patrick Gower, All Blacks Rugby World Cup champion and former captain Richie McCaw, dual Commonwealth Games medallist and Black Sticks champion Gemma McCaw, and the 2012 Olympic gold champion rower Nathan Cohen will saddle up for a 2030km ride from Queenstown to Invercargill for the fundraiser on May 10.
The four will be joined by seven members of the Lakes District helicopter crew, and more than 100 riders taking on the challenge to raise $1 million for the region’s chopper this year.
Gower said he was excited to be heading to the deep south to support the valuable cause.
“I think I must be crazy to sign up for this ride,” Gower said.
“It is brutally long and starts at a ridiculous hour in below freezing temperatures. I think it is going to cause me issues – I will need extra padding in my bike shorts.”
But Gower said he was determined to brave the weather to support the work that the chopper and its staff do saving the lives of southerners.
“I love the people of Otago and Southland and I want to help keep them safe. If that means slogging my guts out on a bike, so be it.”
The Lakes District and Otago Regional rescue helicopters flew 2123 missions last year, saving countless lives with rescues and medial transfers in the deep south, fundraising ride organiser and Westpac New Zealand’s Otago and Southland regional manager Phil Taylor said.
Since the ride’s beginning in 2011, the event had grown from five riders to more than 100, Taylor said.
This year’s journey had been dubbed the million-dollar bike ride, with organisers hoping to raise the $80,000 needed to push the total funds raised since the first event past the seven-figure mark.
Last year’s ride raised $160,000 for the Westpac Chopper Appeal, more than 11% of the total $1.4m that was raised across the nation.
Westpac ambassador and All Blacks legend Richie McCaw took on the snowy challenge last year alongside fellow 2011 Rugby World Cup winners Mils Muliaina and Jimmy Cowan.
The ride left such a impression, McCaw told the organisers to let him know when this year’s ride was.
“It’s a great day out for an awesome cause, made even better by being able to deliver some dear to some deserving schools along the way,” McCaw said.
“It’s a special part of the world and we’re so grateful for all the schools and communities who come out to cheer us on and donate to the cause.
“It helps keep a smile on your face throughout a pretty gruelling day.”
Every dollar raised would stay in the region.
Donations could be made via event’s Givealittle page.