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The Ride to Remember

  • Final update: Total raised $13,561🙂

      3 April 2023
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    On Friday I was presented with a $2,000 cheque (see picture!) from staff at Wyma Solutions and yesterday the ebike offered by 99Bikes sold at auction for $1,400 .. so the fund raising total including your generous donation, comes to $13,561. I am delighted for Dementia Canterbury.

    This is my last update. The Ride to Remember has been a great adventure creating a gallery of treasured memories.

    Thank you for your support.

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  • New target met! Deadline extended

      22 March 2023
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    Wow!! We have met our revised $10,000 target😊. Thank you all so much.

    We have decided to extend the deadline to align with the March Brain Health Awareness month and Dementia Canterbury's Steps campaign https://www.stepsfordementia.nz/

    The new deadline 31 March 2023 is also Dementia Canterbury's Charity Golf Day https://dementiacanterbury.org.nz/event/dementia-canterbury-charity-golf-day/

    Since returning from Bluff on Saturday, I have been mostly sleeping and eating as the body adjusts to 'normal' life again. My butt is thankful!

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  • Done!

      18 March 2023
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    25 days ago we set off to remember Joanie, raise awareness and funds for Dementia and have a great adventure. We nailed it😅

    Sooo many people have supported this campaign. All of you who have so generously donated, thank you. David, who helped conceive the ventue, rode with me but tragically had to withdraw; those who came out to meet me, ride with me, show hospitality and cheer me on: those with Dementia Canterbury and Dementia NZ who have supported me from the start; staff at 99Bikes; Wyma Solutions staff; fellow TAers; trail angels and the network of TA supporters along the route. Thank you all.

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  • $10,0000 the new Fundraising Target

      16 March 2023
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    Hello campaign supporters.

    As we get to the sharp end of the Ride to Remember it's a good time to reflect on what we've all achieved and what's still possible. Thanks to your generosity we've exceeded our $5,000 target and I think $10,000 is now a realistic new target.

    One day of riding left🙂

    Thanks again for your support of this campaign.

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  • Heading for the home straight

      14 March 2023
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    When I'm riding I like to set small targets eg coffee and scone after the first 35km, or meusli bar at the top of a climb. It helps to keep me focused. The bigger targets seem easier to attain that way. And perhaps that's part of the reason why today we're almost 90% of the way to Bluff, but more importantly we've hit the $6,000 mark!

    My last update was leaving the North Island which seems a very long time ago (Day 13, 5 March). The NI gave us more than expected: riding 90 mile beach in total darkness, hypothermia riding into Helensville, David's tragic withdrawal in Taumarunui but also highlights: seeing the sun setting into the Tasman Sea, Tane Mahuta, people telling us their dementia stories, meeting fellow TAers, awesome cycle trails and meeting up with family along the way.

    So here we are in Wanaka (Day 22) with just 3 days left to go. Again I had family ride with me part way into Nelson and had VIP treatment in Reefton with Graeme, a District Councilor ride in with me, taken out for dinner and breakfast and was welcomed into Sacred Heart School before leaving for Ikamatua. Only on the West Coast!

    I had my Christchurch support team meet me in Kumara with extra supplies (more merino layers) and good friend Chris rode the Wilderness Trail with me. The journey down through South Westland was marred by a stomach upset which I can't shrug off and I've learnt to manage (sort of) my aching butt.

    I seem to have missed the worst of recent bad weather and riding today from Makarora (frosty) to Wanaka was spectacular. Great to ride in with good friend Don from Hawea.

    Tomorrow's medium sized target is the Crown Range summit (worth 2 meusli bars!) with the Queenstown cycle trails to look forward to.

    I've posted daily summaries on the Ride to Remember FB page at

    https://www.facebook.com/ridetoremember2023

    I'm pleased to say that David is on the mend and stays tuned in as we get closer to Bluff.

    Next update from Invercargill!

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  • Halfway! South Island here we come.

      6 March 2023
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    We hit our halfway point, 1500km at Gladstone (Wairarapa) on day 12, right on schedule! I posted an update on FB that day https://www.facebook.com/ridetoremember2023

    David is now back in Christchurch on a slow recovery back to health. It's unlikely he will be able to rejoin the tour.

    Day 13 from Gladstone took in the Rimutaka Rail Trail and Cycle Way into Wellington, a bike service courtesy of 99 Bikes then the ferry crossing to a very wet Picton.

    I've enjoyed every day on this trip but today, Day 14 was special. I joined up with my nephew Ashley Whitehead on the ride to the infamous Maungatapu Track en route to Nelson. It was a day made for cycling, sunny and cool. The climb has a reputation for being brutal but its the sort of challenge I like. I loved it. It was fun to share stories with other TAers on Maungatapu Saddle.

    Over the last few days I've been supported by family who have come out to support me. Sister in law Bridget, brother Andy, sister Liz nephew Ashley and I look forward to seeing Margot and friends in Kumara in a few days time.

    Nice. Just like how family rallied around when Joanie was unwell.

    My appetite is insatiable. I need to go and eat. Again!

    Tomorrow Day 15: Murchison.

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  • Pedal on!

      2 March 2023
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    Today, riding alongside the Whanganui River from Pipiriki to Whanganui, should have been an easy day for both of us. Sadly it came too late for David who withdrew from the ride in Taumarunui suffering from the flu. I'm gutted for him.

    The messages of support from family and friends have meant a great deal to me as I rejig my thinking about this trip. After 2 days of riding alone I'm feeling better about the next 2 weeks.

    I've posted a fuller update on the RtR facebook page

    https://www.facebook.com/ridetoremember2023

    Tomorrow is a big day, Whanganui to Palmerston North via Hunterville and Rangiwahia .. familiar country for me. Looking forward to it!

    Pedal on

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  • Underway🙂

      26 February 2023
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    Today, Day 6, we took it easy on a flat stage from Miranda to our motel here in Hobbiton. Warm and still, sublime riding across the Hauraki Plains. A welcome relief from the Northland hills! But today was also special because, thanks to your generosity, we soared past our fundraising target! And we still have 2,250kms to go! And we still have the e-bike auction to go!

    That dementia touches so many people has become evident, as strangers come up to us and tell us their story of a loved one with a dementia. There is a huge need out there. Its comforting to know we can make a small difference.

    Like all great adventures, our journey has had it's moments! I've posted an update on the campaign FB page:

    https://www.facebook.com/ridetoremember2023

    Thanks again for helping meet our fundraising target. We'll keep going .. I think $10,000 is achievable. What do you think?

    Pete

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  • 5 days to go!

      16 February 2023
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    We are concerned about the welfare of those badly affected by this week's cyclone. Hopefully conditions will improve over the next few days to allow the clean up to get underway. Tour Aotearoa organisers have called off the start for the next 2 days but next week looks ok .. at this stage. We are planning for our 21 Feb start as planned but aware things may change.

    Both David and I have trained well over the last 2 weeks and are impatient to be underway. Our bikes get their final service this week and our kit is being refined (mainly discarding things we can get away without!).

    Our itinerary is attached. We are looking forward to meeting up with supporters across the country. Our progress can be monitored at https://touraotearoa2023.maprogress.com/?bib=RtR, my daily Strava blog will be posted to the Givealittle page and I will update the ridetoremember2023 FB page every few days.

    Our fundraising target is now at 60% at $3,000, with the hope of more to come as we get underway and the auction for the 99Bikes e-bike gets underway.

    Thanks again for your support of our cause.

    Ngā mihi nui

    Pete

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  • New Cycling Kit

      30 January 2023
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    We're delighted with the new cycling kit that arrived last week. It's loud and proud and unambiguously tells the reason for our ride. It's also comfortable (stress tested on a 170k ride yesterday!) and highly visible to other road users.

    It's another tick in the box as we count down to February 21.

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  • Sponsorship Announcement

      10 January 2023
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    Our campaign to raise awareness and funds for Dementia has just received a major boost with the support of 99Bikes. 99Bikes have offered an ebike with a RRP of $2,000 for us to auction with all funds going to Dementia Canterbury.

    This is what 99 Bikes have to say about our campaign:

    "99 bikes is proud to sponsor 'The Ride To Remember'. At 99 bikes we aim to be the most approachable bike shop in the world & this is one way we support our community. An adventure crossing the whole of New Zealand on a bicycle is a very inspirational way to increase Dementia awareness. All funds raised from the 99 Bikes e-bike auction will go to Dementia Canterbury. Good luck, we look forward to welcoming you at our East Tamaki and Wellington stores along the way."

    We are really pleased to align ourselves with 99Bikes who publicly state a purpose of "enriching mind, body, earth and soul with the freedom of riding'. We think this fits well with our love of riding and our key message that what's good for the heart is good for the brain.

    The auction for the 'Pedal lightening' ebike, will be run by Dementia Canterbury, and start the day we leave Cape Reinga 21 February 2023 and finish the day we arrive in Bluff 17 March.

    Thanks to all of you for supporting our cause.

    Pete

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  • Christmas Update

      24 December 2022
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    I am delighted to say we're close to 40% of our way toward our fundraising goal of $5,000 ... thanks to all of you. It's very humbling seeing the generosity of friends and strangers who are keen to support the work of Dementia Canterbury.

    Preparations for the Ride to Remember are going well.

    * We have settled on a design for our cycling kit which is a spectacular red in keeping with our brand! We hope the kit arrives in time for our 21 Feb departure.

    * We are close to announcing the support of a sponsor .. more on that in the next update (but very exciting!)

    * All accommodation and ferries (Cook Strait and Lake Wakatipu) have been booked .. we now have a daily riding schedule that we can't deviate from! No major mechanicals, injuries or sickness allowed!!

    * We have selected our bike packing kit (Topeak FrontLoader Bag and 6L Back Loader Bag) and over the next few weeks will be trialing the fully laden bikes on Port Hills back roads and trails.

    * David has been training consistently over recent weeks and I'm feeling the pressure to keep up! Today despite the forecast, we joined two others on a figure 8 of the Port Hills on a warm, dry and mostly sunny day. It was a reminder (if I needed it!) why I love cycling so much. The camaraderie, the joy of moving fast, the physical challenge and being in the great outdoors.

    I hope you enjoy the festive season.

    And thanks again for showing your support for Dementia.

    Pedal on

    Pete

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  • 13 December 2022 update

      13 December 2022
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    Wow what a start to our campaign! The generosity of friends and family is very humbling. We are 25% of our way to reaching our $5,000 target. Thank you all so much.

    David and I have confirmed our riding schedule which includes an extra day and 100km, to ride around Kaipara Harbour as the ferry won't be running when we get to Pouto Point. We're both training with bike packing gear to get used to the weight and have some biggish rides scheduled for the summer. The plan, to arrive at 90 Mile beach on 21 February 2023 fit and prepared for 24 days in the saddle!

    Please 'like' our Ride to Remember Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ridetoremember2023

    Thanks again

    Pete and David

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