MS sufferers join big ride
South Canterbury women Jo Willetts and Maree Foxcroft have the same goal: prove multiple sclerosis (MS) is no barrier to tackling the annual Central South Island Charity Bike Ride.
And while both have knocked about 140 kilometres off the gruelling 385km ride, Monday marked their first time pedalling side-byside – during a spin class at CBay Fitness.
Willetts and Foxcroft have been chipping away at the 385km goal on spin bikes since January 27, in order to finish at the same time as the 90 people signed up for the ride who will cycle from Timaru, to Tekapo, to Kurow, and back over three days starting February 13.
Willetts, of Timaru, hoped to join the other cyclists for the final leg from the intersection of Coonoor and Otipua roads.
Foxcroft, of Temuka, had become ‘‘hooked’’ on cycling since she started training for the ride in August.
‘‘I get biking at 6.30 in the morning and then I’m right for the day,’’ she said.
‘‘I never knew I would be doing anything like this.’’
Foxcroft had her sister, Josie Teahen, to keep her company – but Willetts found doing the ride from home ‘‘not very motivating’’.
‘‘I did 40km [at home] and I thought it was too boring. There wasn’t enough variety on the TV.’’
Her solution was to approach CBay Fitness and ask to tackle the ride from its daily spin class.
‘‘I just can’t believe how supportive everyone has been. They call us the hamsters because we’re in here going round and round,’’ Willetts said.
Central South Island Charity Bike Ride chairman Max Munro said he was ‘‘thrilled’’ and ‘‘proud’’ to have Willetts and Foxcroft on board.
‘‘It’s an outstanding achievement. The dedication they’ve got with the medical issues they’ve got is just incredible.
‘‘By thinking outside the square they’re ticking off things they wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.’’
Since starting in 2004, the ride has raised $1.97 million for South Canterbury charities.
This year’s beneficiaries are the MS Society, Hospice South Canterbury, YMCA, Hearing Association, Pinc and Steel, Life Education, Cystic Fibrosis, and Plunket.
‘‘We’re hitting the $2m mark this year. That wouldn’t happen without the community support we’re getting and it just blows me away,’’ Munro said.
‘‘And it’s great to have the support of the gym to help these ladies along.’’
Foxcroft will join Willetts in the spin class again on Wednesday.
‘‘We both have MS so I’m sure we’ll keep crossing paths,’’ Foxcroft said.