Ben's Tour of Aotearoa - Raising Funds for Diabetes NZ

I have committed to cycling the Tour of Aotearoa from Cape Reinga to Bluff, starting 15th January 2021 and taking around 30 days to cycle the 3,009kms.

In keeping with the spirit of the founders of the TA, I am using this event to raise funds for a worthy cause: Diabetes New Zealand.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes combined affects around 6% of New Zealanders and sadly this percentage will grow as lifestyle changes increase the prevalence of Type 2 in particular.

Type 1 Diabetes has been a huge part of our lives for the last 9 years. It’s arrival in our house-hold was a “bolt out of the blue”, and being an Auto-immune disease, it was unrelated to lifestyle choices.

We have found that the marvelous and committed support of the Diabetes New Zealand has been so valuable, especially in those first few years when as a new Diabetes family, we were coming to terms with the huge change in life that this disease demands.

DNZ supports a broad range of practical patient services including nurses, dieticians, counselors, training camps for children as well as funding medical and technology research to support Diabetes patients. They also lobby government for drugs and technology that are freely available in other countries but not in New Zealand.

In giving your support, you also give me the encouragement and obligation to reach the end of this challenge - and I do always respond better to pressure!

In return for your donations, I commit to keeping you updated on progress as I go. You will also be able to track my progress in real time