“The ride for independence”

“Raising dust, raising funds” for New Zealanders living with disabilities.

Rod Lewis, knows all too well the challenges young people living with disabilities and their families can face on a day to day basis. Rod’s son, Mark, has an intellectual and physical disability and for over 26 years, Rod and his partner Heather have strived to provide Mark with every possible opportunity to gain the independence that every parent wants for their child, regardless of their disability.

Now Rod is taking it one step further and challenging you to also help to raise funds and awareness to support Hohepa Canterbury, a community focused service for people who have intellectual disabilities or autism. Through living, working and taking an active part in community life, the people that Hohepa support such as Mark experience satisfying lives with as much independence as possible.

To learn more about Hohepa Canterbury, please follow the link https://www.hohepacanterbury.com/

The Postie Bike Challenge is a 2 week event which involves travelling nearly twice the length of New Zealand through remote central Australia. This isn’t any old motorbike ride, it involves travelling often unsealed surfaces made for four wheel drive adventurers, weather ranging from snow to temperatures in the high 40s, all whilst travelling on a 110cc Honda motorbike with a maximum speed of 65km/h.

On the 7th of September 2019, Rod will embark on a gruelling expedition across 3500km of Australia in order to raise funds and awareness for the incredible disability services provider, Hohepa Canterbury. You can follow Rod's trip on facebook https://www.facebook.com/rodlewismikepero/ and learn more about the Postie Bike Challenge at https://www.postiebikechallenge.org/

Rod has paid for the trip, the flights have been booked and Rod is committed to completing this huge challenge to prove that amongst all odds, you can still embrace challenges and have one hell of an adventure.