We have already raised just under $20,000 for the Sir John Kirwan Foundation!
That is an outstanding effort, and our thanks go to all those who have donated.
I (Phil Eaton) thoroughly enjoyed the ride, in case you could not tell from the posts on my public Instagram: theactiverelaxer
The journey meant a lot to me for a whole lot of reasons. Apart from raising funds for charity, it has provided a step change in my fitness, which means I can manage my mental health much better. One thing I have learnt is there is a direct correlation there! And I have chosen to support the Sir John Kirwan Foundation because Sir John Kirwan’s book ‘All Blacks Don’t Cry’ came out when I was at rock bottom and struggling with depression. The work he has done in mental health is astounding! It certainly helped me.
Your support and encouragement helped me get through what was a challenging undertaking: 3,000km long with 25km of climbing (altitude gain), in a month. It is not something for the faint-hearted.
The ride’s completion and success in raising funds to assist the Sir John Kirwan Foundation means that the Mitey programme can be rolled out for approximately 700 children. A recent independent review concluded that it is already having a radical impact on the schools where it has been rolled out.
For me, the ride also served to kickstart my fitness and join three friends to tackle a bike race called Race Across America (RAAM) on 17th June 2023. In taking on this challenge our overall goal is to raise $100,000 for charity. Further details on that can be found on our website https://nzblue.org/.
I’ve included a few photos below to wrap it up. There were plenty more!
Thanks again
On behalf of the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, Phil Eaton and the NZBLUE team.
All the best for 2023!
