Riding for Simon and Adult Conductive Education

Hi my name is Winston. I am the old grey guy in the bike gear. My friend Geoff Hay and I are doing the 3000km Tour Aotearoa from Cape Reinga to Bluff. We are really excited and a little bit nervous.

My Godson Simon (He’s the good looking guy in the photo) is not coming because he cannot. Simon has Cerebral Palsy. Simon is a happy guy but he will never get to appreciate the freedom and joy of riding a bike. I couldn’t imagine not being able to ride my bike

Along the way we are hoping to raise the profile of and raise some funds for Adult Conductive Education Trust.

Simon’s story is the same as most young people who suffer from Cerebral Palsy. When they start out, they are integrated into the school system and they have a relatively normal childhood. Unfortunately it all comes to a crashing halt the moment they go through the school gates for the last time. All the support and assistance they receive through their school years is quietly withdrawn and they are on their own. This is tragic. Most of these kids can lead meaningful lives but because they have no financial support once school finishes they cannot get onto the first rung of the ladder into employment.

Adult Conductive Education Trust is an organisation that gives people like Simon the chance to acquire skills beyond secondary schooling in a caring and nurturing environment. But unfortunately because they receive no Government support, funding is always a problem.

My goal on the Tour Aotearoa is to raise the profile of Adult Conductive Education Trust and to raise some money along the way.

The next time you go out for a walk, a game of golf or anything you love doing, spare a thought for those like Simon who will never be able to experience the joy and freedom of life outside a wheelchair.

If you can find a place in your heart please make a donation no matter how small to Adult Conductive Education Trust by sponsoring me on my ride.

If you want, you can just simply make a donation - that would be great. Alternatively, to keep me honest you could sponsor me on a per km basis (say 1 cent per km = $30 or whatever you can afford). We all wear GPS trackers so you can see my progress. If I don’t finish the ride, you stop paying & my pledge to you is I will personally pay the rest of your donation. How’s that for a deal?