Earth to India: Quake hero’s trip for needy kids
Christchurch earthquake hero Matty Lovell is driving 3000km across India in a rickshaw to raise money for disadvantaged children reports Vicki Anderson.
Matty Lovell runs his hand through his hair and breaks into an easy smile that takes up most of his face. It’s just dawned on him that next week he will travel 3000km across India in a ‘‘glorified lawnmower’’.
The Christchurch man has been planning the trip for a year but it is only now that ‘‘it finally seems real’’.
Initially the idea was to ‘‘inspire people, change the world and raise
$50,000 for charity.’’
It all began when he found a bucket list he wrote ‘‘years ago’’.
After rediscovering the list in January of this year, he read it and realised there were only two things he hadn’t yet achieved.
‘‘I had done everything on the list except for have kids and do something for charity,’’ says Lovell. ‘‘I decided to do the charity thing, much to my mother-inlaw’s dismay.’’
Not long afterwards, Lovell became aware of cricket-loving Cantabrian Alex Reese’s efforts with the Cricket Live Foundation.
It aims to use cricket as a vehicle to help develop the life skills and education of underprivileged children from marginalised communities in Sri Lanka and India.
‘‘He is amazing, he has helped hundreds of kids who live in slums,’’ says Lovell. ‘‘I liked him and what he was doing so I got in touch. We are dividing up the funds we raise and giving them to Cricket Live and the Inspire Foundation in New Zealand.’’
When Lovell then heard about the Rickshaw Run, a spark was ignited.
Leaving Christchurch on December
28, Lovell will travel to India for the ‘‘adventure of his life’’.
‘‘We fly into the north of India, Jaisalma, right up by the Pakistan border, then, on January 1, 2018, we head off on a 7 horsepower rickshaw,’’ says Lovell. ‘‘Basically it’s a lawnmower with a little roof on it. The three of us will head south, travel 3000km to Kochi. I expect it will take three weeks, maybe longer.’’
Joining him for the ride is a long-time friend from Canada and also Andy Vause, a filmmaker based in Wanaka, who will document their journey.
‘‘Andy will make a 30 minute insight into what we did, why we are doing it, where the money is going and what it does,’’ says Lovell.
‘‘Lots of people have been asking how they can follow it live. We are going to be tracking live from over there, and have sponsorship from a GPS company. The plan is to have interesting and entertaining videos go up most days which will give an indication of what real life looks like over there. We also have a Facebook page, Earth to India and we are on Instagram, too.’’
He has been so busy organising the trip that he says he hasn’t had much time to think about it.
‘‘Someone asked me what we will do if the rickshaw breaks down,’’ he says. ‘‘My mechanical knowledge is limited. I just think at the very least it will make a good story. Luckily for us, Andy is also a paramedic.’’
The Christchurch earthquakes in 2011 shook Lovell’s view of the world.
On February 22, 2011, he risked his own life to help rescue multiple people who were trapped in the rubble of the PGC Building. What he saw that day changed him.
‘‘It was a very significant day that I feel strongly connected to emotionally. I saw things you never expect you’d see in your lifetime,’’ he says. ‘‘I believe whether they are good or bad our experiences define us. It’s a part of me now, and who I am today. It sounds like a cliche but I try not to take things for granted any more. The earthquake reminded us just how fragile life is. We have a lot to be thankful for that sometimes we forget to appreciate. Life is about relationships and experiences – I try to appreciate both now more than ever.’’
The earthquake reminded us just how fragile life is. … Life is about relationships and experiences – I try to appreciate both now more than ever.’’
Matty Lovell
In 2011, he and his wife Sally quit their
9-5 jobs and moved to the Greek Islands. They spent six months in Santorini before travelling the world for four years. They believe in #experiencesnotthings. Lovell started a blog, Earth to Matty, to document their travels.
The pair returned to Christchurch in
2015 but Lovell says he still has ‘‘a burning desire to change the world’’. It’s why Earth to India began.
A fundraising event on December 8 was supported by sporting stars Sophie Pascoe, Sir Richard Hadlee and Gilbert Enoka of the All Blacks.
‘‘It was an incredible night,’’ says Lovell. ‘‘We raised $50,000, now we are up to $75,000. Our initial hope was to raise
$50,000 but lots of organisations have offered us support. It would be great to get up to $100,000 for the kids, we’ll just keep going as much as we can. It’s nice to do something for other people.’’
Every day he tries to do something to help someone else and make a difference in the world.
‘‘Since I found my bucket list everything for Earth to India has just lined up, you know sometimes when the universe just kicks you in the right direction? I thought ‘cool, I’m in’.’’