I RIDE WITH HAME

For 17 years, Hamish Rieger blazed through life with infectious cheek, a thirst for adventure and a desire to do things for others.

When he died tragically in January 2016, swept off rocks near his beloved home beach in Mount Maunganui, friends and family pledged to keep the journey going.

I RIDE WITH HAME, is the result.

Before he died, Hamish had entered his first half-marathon, in the grip of a serious fitness-kick he dubbed ‘the health train’.

Now a solid crew of supporters has taken on a series of 21km distances, raising money towards a Spirit of Adventure scholarship fund for Mount Maunganui teenagers.

While he was already a proud member of the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service and a very decent water polo player, his Spirit of Adventure trip in 2015 really took Hamish’s ambitions to another level.

“He was always the kid who embraced life but he came back from the Spirit of Adventure more mature, with his heart opened, and a commitment to living life to the full, every day,” his parents Donna and Greg explain. “For that, we are forever grateful and want to give kids from his school the chance to have the same life-changing experience.”

The next I RIDE WITH HAME challenge is the Auckland Marathon, Auckland's premier road race featuring a marathon, half marathon, 10km road race and 5km walk.

A number of Hamish's friends and family have laced up their running shoes and started pounding pavements in preparation - and we will profile them shortly. In the meantime we would love you to support these amazing souls, doing amazing things to celebrate an amazing young life.