Olympian Rebecca Wardell cycles across the world for charity

Olympic heptathlete Rebecca Wardell has reached home soil and begun the final leg of her 20,000-kilometre charity cycle across the world.

Fundraising for Forward Foundation – a charity providing development and leadership opportunities for young female sportswomen – Wardell’s journey began in Switzerland almost a year ago.

On the 30th of April, she left her job at the International Olympic Committee and set off for the long way home with New Zealand rowers Emma Twigg and Sarah van Ballekom.

Twigg and van Ballekom flew home earlier due to training and work commitments, but Wardell has her sights firmly set on the finish line – her bed at her parents’ central Otago home. She aims to fall into it on Good Friday.

Wardell is seeking to fundraise $1 per kilometre cycled, and with the balance currently sitting just over $18,000, she hopes the Kiwi public will help her realise the goal over the next month.

“We felt Forward Foundation was a really good fit in terms of us giving back to something that we benefitted from as youngsters,” says Wardell.

“The support and encouragement we received at high school age to get involved in sport was instrumental in us going on to achieve greater things in our sporting careers.

“We’re passionate about the role sport plays in society and feel that if you can cement that into kids at that age it will hopefully stick for life.”

Wardell began her New Zealand leg on Wednesday 5th March, and invites Kiwis to jump on the bike and join her on her journey south. She’ll also be stopping off throughout the trip to speak about what she got up to on the long way home. Be prepared to be entertained with some gnarly stories at:
• 8th March: 6pm - Auckland - College Rifles Rugby Club
• 14th March: 6pm - Cambridge - St Kilda Cafe and Bistro
• 15th March: 6pm - Rotorua - Millenium Hotel
• 10th April: 6pm - Christchurch - Rangi Ruru Girls School, Helen Kitson Centre

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