Rene's Foster Hope Charity Ride. Marlborough Sound to Milford Sound.
To show children who have been uplifted from their home that someone out their does care and think about them.
Christchurch, Canterbury
Hi everyone. I’m doing this challenging bike ride to raise funds for Foster Hope here in New Zealand. The ride will be from Marlborough Sounds to Milford Sound. It follows east of the main divide of the Southern Alps. It’s 1500 kms long with 800 kms off road on 4x4 tracks and trails. I will be fully self supported, that is carrying food tent etc. There will be a lot of serious hill climbing with an accumulated height climbed of 14.5 kilometres or 600 to 700 meters per day.
Foster Hope Charity resonates with me very deeply, because as a child at the age of 10, along with two younger brothers we were uplifted by the police one night and placed in Welfare homes for the next 4 years.
The funds will be used to supply backpacks to children who have been uplifted from their home.
These packs will contain essential items eg underwear, toiletries, pyjamas, books, and a teddy bear. Just imagine if one of these unfortunate children was related to you or someone you knew, were to suddenly to be uplifted from their home with very little in the way of possessions.
How much would that teddy bear mean for that child to cuddle at night.
All the blood sweat and tears of this long and demanding ride will be mine!
All YOU HAVE TO DO IS DONATE THE DOLLARS. Thats the real easy part!
Please join me in making a real difference to some unfortunate child’s future
Latest update
Together we knocked the bugger off! 1 March 2023
Hi everyone.
Well as probably most of you are aware, if you followed the Facebook Page I have finished.
For those of you not on Fb I finished sunday morning just over a week ago.
Having acheived both of my goals, that is finishing and of course reaching the target of the fundraising. Total at the moment is $11,171.
Really amazing and I'm blown away by the genorosity of so many people. I can assureyou all I was checking the total everyday I had reception and it was a great motivation tool when I was struggling up some rough 4x4 track or trying to reach the summit of a never ending track up to a saddle.
On the journey I acheived a few firsts for me.
One was riding 173 kilometers on day 3 after really struggling with the heat through the Molesworth the day before. Thats the longest distance I have ever ridden. Previous was 160 kms 50 years ago!
Going over Duffers Saddle before the Nevis Saddle I climbed the highest public road in New Zealand, at 1300 meters another first.
Eating Backcountry freeze dried meals for two weeks every night was another first.
Sleeping in a small tent with a life long crook back and no seat to sit on was another first whilst till suffering from a damaged rib from a tramping fall didn't help, when trying to sleep at night.
Riding 11 hours one day was another first for me.
Pushing my physical and psychological limits to places I haven't been to for a long long time is special to find out what you are actually capable of. The rewards are a lot more satisfying when this happens.
So as you can see I acheived a lot more than just going on a bike journey. There was plenty of time to think about many things in life that you don't get when at home doing every day things.
The Givealittle page will remain open for a few days if you know of anyone else that would like to help this worthy cause for Foster Hope.
From the bottom of my heart thank you every single one of you for coming on this journey and making a difference to a childs life. You have given them hope and most of all you have let them know that someone out there does care about them.
Also a big thank you to my social media team ( daughter Meika ) in Australia for putting everything together for Facebook and Instagram Pages.
Chase your dreams and reach your goals what ever they might be.
Rene.
Latest donations
Thank you. I wondered where I’ll bang into you both again. Cheers for the night. René.
Thank you Helen. Your donation is really appreciated. René.
Thanks guys for your donation and a big thank you Meika for all your help behind the scenes over the past couple of weeks.
Thank you very much. Really appreciate your kindness. René.
Thank you both. Very much appreciated. René.
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