NZ bike-a-thon – in London

                                                 Media release – October 19, 2010

 
Cape to Bluff charity walker organising length of NZ bike-a-thon – in London

   Emma Daken, who early last year became the youngest Kiwi to walk from the Cape to the Bluff, is organising a similar major charity event this week – at NZ House, in London.

   Daken is organising a 24-hour spin-a-thon in London with the aim on riding the equivalent length of New Zealand.

   Most of the spin biking will be done by staff from New Zealand House in London and some NZ defence force staff.

   The event begins on Friday 9am (UK time) and finishes 24 hours later. Former All Blacks Sean Fitzpatrick and Anton Oliver are also taking part.

   Senior defence staff from Britain, Canada, and Australia will also cycle for a few hours - challenging the Kiwis.

  ``I am keen to cycle as much of the 24 hours as I can,’’ Daken, 21, said from London today.

   ``We will also have challenges to complete when we cycle through a ‘town/city’:  like drink a can of Speight's in Dunedin;  eat Jaffa's in Auckland, crayfish in Kaikoura; oysters in Bluff, country music in Gore etc. The goal is to raise money for the British charity Help for Heroes.

   ``Although, not a New Zealand charity, New Zealanders will relate to the Help for Heroes charity, given New Zealand's involvement in the Middle East and especially in light of the recent presentation of a bravery award to New Zealander, Rifleman James McKie, a few weeks ago.

    ``New Zealanders relate to a challenge (especially physical challenges), and helping others when in need so we’re all looking forward to putting in the hard yards, attempting something difficult and crazy this week.’’

   Daken wore out four pairs of shoes and took 70 days to walk 2200km from the Cape to the Bluff, ending in January last year. She raised $30,000 for cystic fibrosis from the walk.

   Ends

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