Our Ride/Our Rachel

We six cyclists, and not in any order of importance or ability, (Dave Ellis/Callum McNair/Al Borwick/Ian Lochhead/Alain McKinney/Paul Allan), are going to tackle “The Enduro” at the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge on 28th November 2015.

The What? “The Enduro” It’s called that because some endurance is required to complete a double circumnavigation of Lake Taupo, a total distance of 320km’s each.

Our training requires support, mostly from our families, and a support van will be crucial to help us through the first lap which will be in darkness.

But our thoughts have drifted…and we have had ample time to think….of our good friend and fellow rider from the Devonport Xpressos, Rachel Lee, who deserves more than a little help herself.

Rachel was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of Neuro Endocrine cancer (NETS) a year ago and has endured six trips to Melbourne since to undergo radical treatment currently not available in New Zealand. Each trip costs approximately $10,000.

On the bright side for Rachel, and her 4 year old daughter Milly, the treatments have slowed the growth of the tumours and more tests in December will determine how long term those gains have been.

Obviously it is an anxious time for Rachel and the likelihood of further treatment in Melbourne is high.

We cyclists are anticipating being challenged during The Enduro, especially on the second lap, but it will be nothing compared to the challenges Rachel is facing.

We want to do this ride and we want to do it with a deeper purpose and meaning. We invite you to join us in making it a successful fundraiser for Rachel and Milly.

Only five weeks to go so please help us to help Rachel. Your support is appreciated and will make a difference.

Thank you.