Three Cheers for Rick!
The beautiful scenery and beaches around Northland have delayed me by almost a week in announcing the successful completion of the Bluff to Cape Challenge and the safe arrival of Rick, the bike and the box at Cape Reinga last Sunday morning. This time two years ago the idea of riding the length of New Zealand on a bike was just that, an idea. But with the hard work, support, and encouragement of his friends and family, Rick has conquered the hills and valleys of New Zealand. The key to success he tells me, was not to think about Cape Reinga and how far he had left to ride but to take each day as it came, one bend, one hill and one leg of the journey at a time and to just keep pedalling. He was really lucky with the weather, not once having to ride in the rain and arriving at the Cape accompanied by fellow rotarian cyclists in glorious sunshine. There to meet him were members of Kerikeri Rotary Club, The Hon. John Carter (MP for Northland and Minister for Civil Defence) and many family and friends who had made the trip to the Cape to see him finish, some from as far as Helston, Cornwall, the home of Shelterbox. Shortly after finishing, Rick was officially welcomed and congratulated by The Hon. John Carter and was presented with a donation of a cheque for one Shelterbox toward the challenge target from the Kerikeri Rotary club, bringing the final total to approximately $10,000 NZD (although its still not too late to sponsor!). Donations and sponsorship have come from a wide variety of sources and although not always collecting huge sums on the road, the ride and visibility of the Shelterbox on wheels has raised awareness of this fantastic organisation and the work it does. Hopefully whenever disasters arise, New Zealanders will have Shelterbox top of mind when they go to donate. Rick feels a fantastic sense of achievement from both a personal perspective and from doing something that will make a difference in other people’s lives when they most need it.
A project like this one could not go ahead without the help and support of a large number of people. First of all we’d like to thank everyone who provided accommodation and hospitality to Rick and the team, including those not mentioned since my last post; Judy Cole and her partner Rod at Huntly, Ralph Atkinson and Jo Beck at Pukekohe, Margaret and Phil Parkes at Snells Beach, Barry and Dianne Cole at Warkworth, Alex and Lynne at their lovely Matakohe House and Max and Sandra Leonard in Kamo. Many new friendships have been forged as a result of the warm reception Rick and the team were given at every stop along the ride.
Another big thank you goes to Paul Tylor for kindly lending his Toyota Highlander to enable Rick to ride with the assistance of a reliable support vehicle, without which Rick would have been very vulnerable on the road. Driving the support vehicle were a team of people who signed up for significant chunks of the ride, giving up their time to help the cause; Paul Radley, Walter Van Der Kley, Vaughan Dyer, Colin Bennet and Rick’s partner Vonny. We also thank their families for managing without them whilst they drove.
The ride would not have been possible without the support of major sponsors FnF Fuels who provided the petrol for the support vehicle and nd Interislander Ferries who provided free passage across Cook Strait. Its nice to know there are still small organisations out there who are prepared to lend a hand to charitable endeavours with little benefit or return on their investment. Please do support these companies when you can. Other sponsors included, Camelbak, Buff Headwear and Berghaus clothing from Beattie Matheson, keeping Rick warm, dry, hydrated and safe on the road. Thanks also to Andy from Bay Signs who provided the sponsorship signage for the support vehicle.
A special mention also goes to Rick’s fellow Kerikeri Rotarians John and Helen Toms, Jenny Wilson, Robert and Barbara Collins, Leanne and Michael Brott and Vicki Douglas for coming all the way up to Cape Reinga to cheer Rick on and for erecting a shelterbox tent and banner, which in itself caught the eye of a few tourists which resulted in some sponsorship dollars. Owen Smith from Kerikeri Rotary also supported Rick in many ways before and during the challenge but was unable to make it to Cape Reinga as he was on his way to deliver Shelterbox relief to flood stricken Columbia. Graham Beach, Shelterbox Coordinator for Rotary New Zealand has also helped coordinate the various Rotary clubs involved across New Zealand, so we thank him too.
A big thank you to the Hon. John Carter for taking time out of his really busy schedule to greet Rick at the finish and walk down with everyone to the lighthouse for some photographs. I also must personally thank him for pushing the pram down there and doing a spot of baby sitting, and then pushed the bike and box back up the hill to the car park with not a voter in sight!
Last but not least a massive thanks goes to Alan Morton, helped by Caroline Brooks-Quan for the organisation and management of the logistical aspects of the ride. You would think riding from one end of the country is simply a case of getting on your bike and pedalling, but to ensure that the ride was completed safely, on time and with maximum exposure for Shelterbox, a huge amount of time and effort was involved liaising with sponsors, Rotarians, support drivers, media and every other organisation and person that contributed to make it a success. Thanks Alan, you did a fantastic job and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you Barbara for lending us Alan!
I’d also like to thank on Rick’s behalf his family; Fran, Hannah, Robert, Matthew and Ollie for their support in the years leading up to this endeavour.
Last but not least I’d like to thank my Dad Rick for having the courage to make the idea a reality, for putting in thousands of kilometres of training in before the event so that we all knew you could make it (although at one point we were worried you might peak too soon!) for not giving up, for getting back on your bike when the trailer got blown sideways (twice) and tipped you into a busy road in the path of traffic and for keeping at it. You are living proof that it is never too late to get back into shape, even when your health has taken a knock. We’re really proud of you and much relieved that you made it one piece. Three cheers for Rick!
Below is a gallery of photos from the finish line.
You can still sponsor Rick by clicking on the following links:
Donations by credit card or PayPal can be made at any time by selecting one of the following links to a secure site:
If you are resident in New Zealand click here :
https://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/Ricks-ride2010
If you are resident elsewhere in the world click here:
http://www.justgiving.com/Rick-Stacey-nzride2010
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- Rick and the Hon. John Carter
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- View from the Cape
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- Grumpa Rick Meets Harriet at the finish
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- Pedaling up the hill…
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- Nearly there!
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- Next stop Bluff?!!!
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- Cape Reinga Bound!
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- The final furlong….
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- Lighthouse at Cape Reinga
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- Come on Grumpa Rick!
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- Walking Advertisement!
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- Proud family
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- Three Cheers for Rick!
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- Rick with Alan Morton and John Toms
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- Rick and Family
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- Waiting for Grumpa Rick
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- 13km to go!
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- Rick being greeted by the Hon. John Carter Minister for Northland and Civil Defence
