Fresh Future Cyclists complete remarkable ride

News release

26 September 2008

Fresh Future Cyclists complete remarkable ride for sick kids

Weary, bruised and sore – but chuffed after a job well done!

An incredible team of cyclists, raising money for the Fresh Future Appeal, has ridden 2,000km in 18 days to raise money for sick kids throughout New Zealand.

The Fresh Future cyclists, led by Progressive Enterprises’ own Adam Bentley, started their journey at the Invercargill Velodrome on 8 Sept and have battled rain, cold, blisters, sore muscles, virus, flat tyres and bike wrecks.  They even encountered an all-day nor’easter on the ride from Kaikoura to Blenheim.

 “We’ve had some tough rides along the way, like Day 8 when we faced that brutal nor’easter. That was the longest 130 kilometres I’ve ever done! But we never gave in and were determined to keep going for the kids,” said Adam, who was helped along the way by his wife and baby son, who were part of the support crew.

The team of six ‘core cyclists’ ballooned at times up to 100 riders for various legs of the journey. It included staff from Foodtown, Countdown, Woolworths, Fresh Choice, SuperValue and Dick Smith stores.  At times they were joined by fire trucks, supporters on Harleys, and VIPs including Beijing bronze medal cyclist Wesley Gough.

The team completed their fundraising ride yesterday at Kidz First hospital, one of 10 hospitals that will benefit from funds raised during the second Fresh Future Appeal.  

On the way to Kidz First, the cyclists stopped in at Progressive Enterprises’ head office in Mangere and were greeted by a guard of honour formed by 24 forklift trucks and a large crowd of 500 loud, cheering staff holding ‘Fresh Future Cyclists Rock’ signs.

Other Fresh Future fundraising activities included head shavings, raffles, concerts, trivia nights, bungee jumps, sausage sizzles, golf days, garage sales and a kids duathlon.  As of today, $628,031.48 had been collected, and organiser Ruth Krippner said she was confident that the 8-week appeal would again raise over $1 million.

The $1 million raised in 2007 went towards paediatric care in dedicated children’s wards in Dunedin, Christchurch, Waikato and Wellington Hospitals, as well as Kidz First Children’s Hospital in Auckland.  The 2008 Fresh Future Appeal will support all these hospitals again, plus children’s wards in another five hospitals – in Whangarei, Tauranga, Hawkes Bay, Invercargill and Greymouth.  This means kids from right throughout New Zealand will benefit.

Progressive Enterprises Managing Director Peter Smith said, “We’re all keen to support sick kiwi kids who are in hospital, their families and those wonderful medical professionals who treat them. This has been an incredible effort by thousands of people.  This is community fundraising at its finest.”

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