Col braves rain in White Ribbon ride
Te Puke’s Col Gardiner made a solo ride to Kawerau but came back with plenty of mates on the White Ribbon Ride.
Around 35 bikes rode into Te Puke and stopped for sausages, coffee and a catch up with supporters of Te Puke’s It’s Not OK campaign. They were due to head to Mount Maunganui to an event that had to be cancelled due to the bad weather.
Col says riding conditions weren’t particularly pleasant, but it was worthwhile for the White Ribbon cause.
“The only thing that will get me out of bed when it’s raining is kaupapa — unless it’s kaupapadriven, I ain’t going to ride in the rain,” he says.
The White Ribbon Ride happens every November to coincide with White Ribbon month which has the goal of increasing awareness of and reducing domestic violence.
“We’ve got to continue to do that, to turn up and front up and speak up because if we don’t then it just gets worse.”
Col’s involvement in the White Ribbon movement came as a result of his membership of the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club which supports the White Ribbon rides.
“I’ve been a support rider with them for about three years now,” says Col.
He says he was happy with the way things went at the Te Puke stop-off.
“Some of the locals didn’t know what was happening and were a bit overwhelmed by all these bikers — but what did happen was we connected with It’s Not OK which has a similar kaupapa.
“We can be doing all this good stuff but every now and then we just need to connect with each other and that’s what happened.
“There’s nothing like stopping and having a coffee and saying to each other ‘you’re doing a good job’.”