Ben Raising Funds for YHA's Stewart Island Project

Thank you all for your help and support for YHAfs learning Centre and Eco Hostel project on Stewart Island. Our crew of 15 riders plus support crew completed the 550km, 6 day ride from Wellington to Rotorua (via the Wairarapa and Napier) over this last week, zooming into to Rotorua mid afternoon on Friday in great weather, great condition and joined in the last 15kms by 2 Councillors from the Rotorua District Council who welcomed our team to their city. Once the last of the pledges come in the riders will have raised in excess of $20,000 and with the support of YHA business partners the amount raised will exceed $50,000. So thank you from us all. The trip is well documented on the following blog: http://www.stewartislandproject.blogspot.com There is a montage of photos and videos to give a brief flavour ? make sure you turn on your computer speakers. Highs and lows for me were: - A fantastic team and spirit - Marvellous support from our sponsors - Great profile raising for our project - The Fonterra milk truck drivers in the Wairarapa who were the best truck drivers on the road, and - The logging trucks on the Napier ? Taupo road, who were not! - The huge, long, steep uphills out of Napier, and - Zooming downhill into the Mohaka river valley. - Sleet and snow at the top of the Napier/Taupo road - The open fire at a caf? on the plateau near the Kaiangaroa Forest to dry out gear and thaw our frozen feet. - Commitment by our Chair (me) and our CEO (Mark) to submit to a cyclistfs leg-waxing as another fund-raising gesture! - No accidents or injuries - A marvellous support crew that kept bikes and bodies going - A really successful YHA AGM held in Rotorua over the weekend. While the Ride for Rakiura was a great success, it is just another small step in our $4M fundraising campaign.? We would welcome any suggestions you can make for organisations, trusts or individuals who you know that might share our aims for this project.? Follow the link for more details: http://www.yha.co.nz/Sustainability/Stewart+Island+Project Thank you all again.