Emotional journey completed
Dinnie Moeahu has yet to become an Ironman – but in the meantime he’s achieved something even greater.
For the past two years the Taranaki man has spearheaded efforts on behalf of the Little Fighters Trust to raise $80,000 to sponsor a care room in Ronald McDonald House at Starship Hospital in Auckland.
Having now successfully raised the funds, he will attend a room opening ceremony at the house this Sunday.
‘‘I’m starting to well up just thinking about it,’’ Moeahu said over the phone on Monday while still in Taupo¯ recuperating from his 2019 NZ Ironman attempt over the weekend.
‘‘I’m going to be an emotional wreck, but I won’t hold on to those tears – they will be tears of joy and I’m just glad I could be a part of that journey with them.’’
In 2016 Moeahu was approached by the Little Fighters Trust to become an ambassador for the organisation, which supports Taranaki families who have children with lifethreatening illnesses.
The registered charity has become the country’s first to attempt, and achieve, the mammoth goal of raising enough funds to sponsor a room, he said. ‘‘Taranaki can take a bow.’’ Because of this, Moeahu said there would be priority given to Taranaki families but the room would also be available to people from outside of the region.
Raising the money was no easy feat for the trust, with many involved spending countless hours on the project.
Possibly the most arduous money spinner of them all was the businessman’s entry into the Ironman event, which aimed to raise public awareness of the cause and bring in sponsors.
Training and competing in the event – which comprises a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and a 42km run – was enormous for Moeahu, who had not been on a bike for 30 years and had never run more than 5km in his entire life.
But he put in the hard yards and on Saturday he found himself at the start line.
After making it through the swim with some time up his sleeve, Moeahu was stonewalled by head and cross winds during the cycling leg of the race. With only a few kilometres to go before hitting the transition point, he ran out of time and was disqualified. While disappointed, the father-of-two acknowledged just competing was a triumph and the greater goal was still realised.
‘‘We achieved the money and this race was me fulfilling my promise to them.’’
However, as Moeahu closes the chapter on his responsibilities to the Little Fighters Trust he admits to still having unfinished business.
‘‘I only completed two-thirds of the race and so I’ll be doing it again next year,’’ he said. ‘‘I want to get it – I’ve seen it and I was so close to attaining it and this will be my own personal journey.’’