Back to page

Crazy Scientist Cycling Against Asbestos

  • A beautiful sunset

      7 March 2023
    Main image

    Over 8 days, we have travelled around 800km and ascended close to 7,000km. We suffered a mechanical failure, a emergency rescue and a damaged knee. But we met the most amazing people both on and off the trial and experienced the most beautiful country. We have raised a total of $10,670 to help support those with a terrible disease called mesothelioma and we will continue to raise awareness to prevent further cases. Thank-you to everyone for supporting - We will be back! T-A & Nick p.s this givealittle still has a month to run so please do share :)

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 07/03/2023 by Joanne

      Your cycle journey reminds me of our whanau mesothelioma journey - tough, challenging , unpredictable, with plenty of support along the road - Nga mihi nui Terry-Ann and Nick

  • End of the road

      28 February 2023
    Main image

    Well it’s been a fab journey but sadly our quest to cycle the length of the country has come to an end, sooner than we had hoped. My knee has become too inflamed to continue and so we have returned back to Auckland for an ultrasound and some recovery. A huge thank you to everyone who has donated, cheered on, supported and helped us on our way. We made it to the centre of the North island and on to Taumaranui which is more than I ever thought I would be able to cycle when I started two years ago. Thanks again and please keep on supporting MSAA Trust :)

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Helensville to Kawakawa Bay

      19 February 2023
    Main image

    Another day of legends ! We travelled from a Helensville to Kawakawa Bay (120km) after a stop to repair Nick’s bike and a quick osteo session (in a car park) to fix up my knee.I’ll admit that this isn’t quite the adventure I thought it would be. It’s been so hard. But here are some magic moments…..1. The amazing folks at Donnelly’s Crossing who stayed open late to feed us. 2. The brother and sister who tracked us over the gravel path and brought out ice cold grapes from their garden to cheer us on. 3. Camilla Saxby and Graeme for travelling from Belmont to Westgate to fix my knee (Camilla fixed my head !).4. Robyn Challenger who organised the welcoming committee on point Chev with Megan Wishart, Lisa Todd, Jo de Beer (thanks so much for the cashews and peanut butter!), Brigid Beehan and Josh for the wonderful hug ! 5. Wendy Allan and Dave Allan for cycling a leg with us and buying ice creams in Cornwall Park 6. Dave Phillips for bringing the fundraising up to $6k (!) and last but not least Gregor Steinhorn for waiting for us in Cornwall park for 2,5 hours !!!!! We are blessed to have friends like you x

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Day 3 -1 broken bike and 2 broken bodies !

      18 February 2023
    Main image

    Made it to the beach at Pouto point !! 100km done. Now on the charter ferry to Helensville. Today has to be dedicated to Nicholas Berry - the man is a legend - he has now completed 200km of riding with just ONE gear. He hasn’t complained once (and I have complained enough for both of us).

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 18/02/2023 by Joanne

      Hoping Nicholas can have some additional gears tomorrow !!! Great updates btw

  • Day 2

      17 February 2023
    Main image

    To all those following the ride - please don’t panic - we are fine but our tracker has broken so we are not still at cape Reinga - we managed a mammoth 140km and 2500m climbing on lots of slippery tree strewn gravel tracks. It wasn’t the best of days as nicks bike broke and he ended up with just one gear for the last 50km. He was amazing ! I struggled because there was no veggie food to be had. Tried to struggle down a chicken sandwich but it promptly came back up. Two dedications for the ride today - firstly to Leonie - the most incredible inspiration lady I know and secondly to my fabulous brother in law -Mike Berry who gave me all of his gels to try (totally kept me going) AND had a strange unwavering belief that I could do this nightmare leg- you were right ! Will let you know when the tracker starts playing ball again !

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Day 1 Ninety mile beach in our MSAA tees !

      16 February 2023
    Main image

    The journey has begun !!!!!!!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Delayed !!

      15 February 2023
    Main image

    It seems that our start this Thursday from Cape Reinga was not to be. Emergency services had enough to deal with right now without an average cyclist on a loaded bike. So we are delayed but will let you know when we are on the track and heading south !

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Justified and Ancient

      6 February 2023
    Main image

    Holy moly, we think that a rain cloud followed around Auckland today. Had to ring out our gloves after a quick coffee stop - we were too soaked to sit inside so stood in the rain and provided a dog sitting service for those needing the outdoor loo ! Nonetheless 86km which combined with yesterday’s 101km brings us to 187km - our biggest ride over two days. 13km more and we would reach our 200km target (then times that by 15 !). So that is the end of the training and now we wait nine days before we leave. Thanks for your support. At the end of every day we want to end our cycle playing “justified and Ancient” by the KLF. It’s just feels right. All bound for Moo Moo Land !!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • When the going gets tough….buy a Bluetooth speaker!

      5 February 2023
    Main image

    Feeling both relieved and terrified at the same time as we come to the end of training. This weekend is our last big one. Just completed 101km today and tomorrow will be an 85km ride. Then we are on taper !! Found myself getting a little bored of the same bike tracks today (the abuse hurdled at us for turning right across a busy road from a driver turning left didn’t help but the little boy on his scooter who gave us a huge thumbs up really did). Anyway I took a little Bluetooth speaker and when it got really tough - I played 70’s Disco hits and all was good with the world again.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Furthest, highest, longest

      22 January 2023
    Main image

    This Sunday, I was taken on a bit of a mystery tour to test my resilience on a really big ride. We started from home at 6:30am (it was still dark when we woke). We rode for a total of 7 hours, covering 126km and over 1850m of ascent. We had one puncture and struggled against temperatures recorded at 34 degrees ! Finally reached home at 4:30pm (three cafes on the way). Utterly exhausting and I am a bit broken now but if I can still walk tomorrow then onwards and upwards ! Come on NZ - surely worth donating a dollar or two ? :)

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Day 2 of 2, a memorial and a very dodgy photo

      10 January 2023
    Main image

    So we completed our two days of back to back riding (75km per day) and fully loaded. It was surprisingly ok and we actually got quicker on the second day (although that may be because it was sunny (at last). Lots of passerby stopped and asked what we were doing so I think that this could be a great platform to raise awareness to protect our friends and whanau. In honour of a lovely man, Mr Jack Doherty, who sadly passed away from Mesothelioma just after Christmas - I am posting the worst photo I have ever seen of myself (selfie in the rain on route to St Heliers - looking like a deranged tortoise !). Think it would have made him laugh and perhaps it will tempt others to donating to and/or sharing my link? Happy New Year !

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 15/02/2023 by Joanne

      He would love you getting a good soaking ! 😂 handy to have a fan base in high places !

  • All loaded up and very very wet !

      7 January 2023
    Main image

    The Christmas break was supposed to be our opportunity to accomplish three things. Firstly, two x 4 hour rides on consecutive days, secondly, test the bikes (and us) fully loaded and thirdly, try some of the trail down in Thames. Unfortunately the trail has been closed until further notice so we have loaded up the bikes to ride our consecutive days around Auckland. Day 1 was today and it poured down all day but we couldn’t wait any longer for the weather to play fair. Actually quite enjoyed it (although the coffee stop was a little cold and soggy. Completed the 75km route in 4:02 fully loaded (and in the rain) compared our best time of 3:45. Ave speed 18.5 km/h compared to previous of 19.9 km/h. Very reassuring that the packs didn’t seem to slow us down too much but we do have to do this all over again tomorrow ! Thanks to Greg for meeting us and getting some great shots

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Riding in a subtropical storm

      3 January 2023
    Main image

    This week was supposed to include back to back 75km rides with some of our kit on the bike to test the handling but the weather had other ideas ! Pulled the plug last night after seeing the weather watch warning for Auckland and glad we did as it was pretty wild out there. Instead 3 x 2 hour rides on the trainer downstairs listening to BBC Radio 2. Can think of worse options - I was in my happy place :) Also happy that the route tracker can now be accessed and our details (start 16th Feb) have been uploaded…….. https://touraotearoa2023.maprogress.com/?bib=N&TA&m=mh. P.s the photo is of me refuelling (most inelegantly) last week (leftover panettone should be a super food)

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Last ride of 2022 - was a stinker !

      31 December 2022
    Main image

    It’s getting a little too real at the moment. Just 6 weeks to go and I am beginning to get daunted by the terrain. Had a practise ride in the Waitakere Ranges today with lots of climbing. Just didn’t feel great - sore backside, sore back, sore knee, hideous head wind to battle. Completed 75km in less than 4 hours with about 1000m climbing so stats look ok but feeling a bit beaten. Not sure my body is capable even if the will is there. Thankfully, I have the wonderful members from the MSAA Trust on FB encouraging me. I’m not done yet!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Boxing Day Epic

      26 December 2022
    Main image

    Woke early to beat the heat but still a blisteringly hot ride today. The great news is that we covered 101km today (my longest ride ever!) including 900m of climbing. Wonderful to dive into the water at Castor Bay to soothe those muscles. Here we at the top of the coastal path at St Heliers (about halfway round) - just puffed and panted to the top of my second least favourite hill fuelled by leftover panettone. How on earth am I going to do this back to back for 30 days and some ?

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Merry Christmas Everyone

      22 December 2022
    Main image

    Just wanted to say a big thank you for your support so far! I will be cycling through the Christmas break including our first 100km ride on Boxing Day ! Will post an update if we make it to the end

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Crashing through the Redwoods

      19 December 2022
    Main image

    This weekend we took a break from training in Auckland for the Redwoods in Rotorua. Incredible location with lovely friendly staff. No traffic to contend with but very wet conditions and plenty of skids and hairy moments for me. The last (and only) time I have been here before, in early 2022, I struggled to cross a small bridge (bike handling skills not too hot). This time - I owned that bridge - twice !!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Wet and Wild (weekend!)

      11 December 2022
    Main image

    So I had great plans this weekend - it was to be my first 100km ride. The plan was to leave my home and travel over to St Heliers and back again. The weather had other ideas and although I have no problem with riding in the rain - I draw the line at lightning! The only alternative was to binge watch "8 out of 10 cats does Countdown" on You Tube whilst cycling on the downstairs trainer for 3 hours ! Look how fast I was going !!!!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Why am I crazy about this fundraiser?

      2 December 2022

    My research into asbestos over the last decade has allowed me to see the impacts of asbestos and the horrors of mesothelioma. I am aware of the increasing numbers of cases (now 220 per year cases of asbestos related diseases in NZ!) and the lack of sufficient support for those (and their families/carers) who are suffering. This is why I founded MSAA Trust and why a 50 year old non-cyclist with a prosthetic hip is embarking on a 3000km journey from Cape Reinga to Bluff. I would like to raise awareness across the whole country by connecting with our community. In addition, the funding will be used to support an employee to continue to develop our website and Facebook page to distribute to our wider community. Please support and share my story !

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Journey so far……

      29 November 2022

    Reached a milestone ride at the weekend, 75km with 1000km of climbing ! Was hard work but spurred on by all the incredible support - thanks everyone

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 01/12/2022 by Mesothelioma Support and Asbestos Awareness Trust

      Hello again - just wanted to say a huge thanks to those who have donated so far! Your support means so much. This weekend, I am aiming to take the go pro with me so that I can post a video of my training and you can have a good chuckle at my “hat hair” ! Xx