Wheely generous: Liz’s rally for charity
Rachael Comer rachael.comer@stuff.co.nz A bubbly, colourful Timaru woman is putting her foot down for charity once again.
Liz Watson will be a familiar face to many South Canterbury families in her role as a Plunket nurse but she will take on a different task at the weekend as she prepares to travel 220 kilometres on a 50cc scooter to raise money for The PlaceMakers Foundation – this year supporting Prostate Cancer Southland and Hospice Southland.
The Southern Scooter Challenge will travel from Bluff to Queenstown today, and is not seen as a race, instead a way of raising awareness and fundraising for the charities.
A breast cancer survivor, Watson said awareness was the driving force for her participation in the challenge.
‘‘The money will go to education, research, awareness,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s so important people look after themselves and knowing what is normal or abnormal.’’
She said her fundraising aim had been a modest $250 but already she has raised almost $700.
In May 2018, Watson took part in the Tranz Alpine Scooter Safari, a biennial 250-kilometre ride that raises money and awareness for cancer sufferers.
The journey was personal following her own breast cancer diagnosis after a routine mammogram in 2017.
‘‘It’s an extremely humbling event,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s about resilience and I can tough it out – it’s just like having cancer. It’s hardship and endurance and just getting on with it.’’ Watson expects to finish today’s race in about seven to eight hours, starting at 7.30am in Bluff.
‘‘It will be a lot of fun.
‘‘I’m very excited about taking part.’’
So far $95,674 has been raised for the challenge from 1144 donations.