January 28, 2022
800km of cycling in under two weeks? This might be daunting for some, but Mechanical Technician Rob takes it in his stride having already completed the 3000km Tour Aotearoa last year. Now Rob is back at it again and is currently cycling from Gisborne to Taranaki to raise money for the Brain Injury Association.
"Completing the 3000km Tour Aotearoa in March 2021 gave me an amazing feeling of achieving something that, at the beginning, felt insurmountable. The cycling challenge gave me a new happy place that, with managing strategies, I could achieve with a brain injury. Now 12 months later there are a lot of things that I cannot do due to my brain injury but cycling is still my drive and passion" says Rob.
Defying the odds, Rob who suffered a brain injury in June 2020, is now taking on Kopiko Aorearoa - a shorter yet steeper and more physically arduous stretch that starts at Gisborne and ends in Taranaki. The hilly and remote track traverses the widest point of the North Island and is almost the equivalent of climbing Mt Everest, twice!
Rob has been training for the cycle ride for months and is looking forward to cycling through some of New Zealand's most beautiful natural areas - some of which are only accessible via push bike or foot.
You can support Rob on his journey by donating to his chosen charity - the Brain Injury Association 👉 https://bit.ly/33VuVII
To follow Rob's journey and see where about he is in New Zealand, see the journey tracker here 👉 https://bit.ly/3AF6cV3
