Broadcasting and sporting legends team up for bike ride

Broadcaster Patrick Gower will saddle up alongside All Blacks legend Richie McCaw, McCaw’s wife, dual Commonwealth Games medallist and Black Sticks champion Gemma McCaw, and 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning rower and local hero Nathan Cohen for this year’s Chopper Bike Ride from Queenstown to Invercargill on May 10. About 100 riders, including seven members of the Lakes District Helicopter Crew, will take part in the 230km ride. All funds raised will go to the local helicopter trust to support their lifesaving work. Gower said he’s looking forward to spending the day in the saddle to support a valuable cause. “I think I must be crazy to sign up for this ride. It is brutally long and starts at a ridiculously stupid hour in below freezing temperatures. I know it is going to cause me issues - I will need extra padding in the bike shorts.” This year’s journey is dubbed the “million dollar bike ride”, with organisers hoping to raise the $80,000 needed to push the total funds raised since the first Chopper Bike ride in 2011 past the seven-figure mark. Chopper Bike Ride organiser and Westpac NZ Otago and Southland regional manager Phil Taylor is grateful for the star power to boost the fundraising towards a vital cause. “The Lakes District and Otago Regional rescue helicopters flew 2123 missions between them last year, saving countless lives with rescues and medical transfers in our remote and rugged part of the country,” Taylor said. People can donate to the ride now by visiting The Million $$$ Ride Givealittle page.