This page is dedicated for my work colleagues daughter Zoe, who was born with a rare congenital condition called Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) Doctors and Zoe’s family were unaware of the condition until last July when a sudden bleed from the AVM caused Zoe to have a stroke.

She was rushed to Starship hospital where she underwent brain surgery and remained in a coma for 2 weeks. Neuro surgeons removed the AVM in one of her four life saving operations while in Starship for 5 1/2 weeks. Zoe was left with paralysis of her right side and impaired speech. Zoe and her family, who live in Glenbrook then moved to the Wilson Centre in Takapuna for 7 1/2 months for an intense rehabilitation programme.

Zoe has had to learn to eat, talk, start to get up on her feet and try to regain the use of her right arm and hand. Zoe requires help in all everyday tasks i.e. dressing, sitting, rolling etc. As she is only young there is a fair chance of recovery as much of the function in the brain is still mapping and connecting.

To give Zoe every possibility of this, it takes an amazing amount of physio and other specialised activities i.e. riding for disabled, swimming lessons etc. This also needs to go on at an extensive pace for the next 5 years and most probably for the rest of her life.

My name is Paul Becker and I am a member of the Akld Mtb club. I will be riding the 1100km Kiwi Brevet, 4 - 12 Feb 2012, aiming to raise some funds for Zoe continual recovery.

This is an actual event called the Kiwi Brevet and you are not allowed any outside organised help.
Rider’s progress can be watched live on the website as everyone carries gps tracker. The event starts in Blenheim and heads south as far as Sheffield, heading over Arthurs Pass to Reefton, St Arnaud, Nelson, Picton and finishing back in Blenheim. Terrain covered is a mix of back country gravel roads, forest sections and some highways to link it all together.

My bike will be equipped with front and rear racks, loaded with enough gear to survive 8 days, tent, sleeping bag and mat, 1 change of clothes and enough food / water for each day. This will be replenished as I pass through the towns, hopefully they are still open when I pass through.

So if you are keen to help Zoe and sponser me .01c per km a total of $11.00 or whatever you like, it would be much appreciated by Zoe and her parents.

If you could please send your pledge via email to heck12@xtra.co.nz, (my email address) we will keep a register and send you Zoe's bank account details to deposit the money into after the event.


On behalf of Zoe thanks for your support.

Paul

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Full Circle

Day 8





Paul has completed the 1100km with half a day remaining!! A great effort.

He has ended up where he started in Blenheim all those days ago.

Having him back in the house was pretty funny, he had one leg bigger than the other and kept eating for two.

He has been creating this Slide Show so here goes. A good taste of what he has been up to.

Saturday 11 February 2012

The End is Nigh

We are on the last section of this Epic voyage. I say we as this house has been following his every wiggle.

I mentioned that the aim for last night was Nelson, but that would leave too much to do on the last day so the troops (3-4 of them and hardly any strength left to be called troops) stayed in Havlock last night. They rode in a Peloton formation and had only just 15mins to book their nights stay and order dinner.

Day 7

So today is all about pushing for Blenheim. The end. Keen for it to finish. Legs are like "wood".

There is one last slog though the Port Underwood road, which on google earth doesn't look that intimidating but according to the dude who finished the ride in 3.5 days!! "it's a Slog".

As I am typing this PB is moving along alright....maybe he's found some inner spring.

I found out more about the crash on day 2. Sore legs (both) shin and a swollen ankle. Nothing like starting a 1100km ride with a few damaged limbs. Must get some photos of the Santa beard before it gets taken off too.

The last push across the hills

Friday 10 February 2012

Dawn till Dusk

Received a call from the big man yesterday and must say he sounds rather coherent. Must be the flat white he just drank.


All is moving on nice both body and bike are holding up (thanks to his sports massage therapist dude)

Stayed in a backpackers last night and indulged in a shower and the art of brushing ones teeth.  Oh and washing his riding gear. One of lifes treats on the Brevet.

Last I heard he was having beer at the backpackers @ St Amaud with 5 other mates from the ride.

Day 6

So today sees the aim of making Nelson by nightfall and one of the last big climbs too leading into the City.

My figures for yesterday were incorrect. Ride finishes mid Sunday so there still is 2 1/2 days left.

904kms completed with 196kms left. Sounds easy  huh??



If any of you UK troops have any spare pounds or hula hoops and would like to donate for the cause you can drop it in my UK account and I can get the funds out here. (yes we have Money machines in NZ)

First Direct
M J Becker
40-47-59 95256720 

Thursday 9 February 2012

Long Way Round

Here I am sitting at work watching the updates, trying to pretend I am actually doing work!!

Its 13:18 on 9th Feb. That makes it day 6... 5.. no 6. I am struggling to keep track also. 2.5 days left.

PB n co had a super long day yesterday finishing up @ after 10pm in the small town of Springs Junction, where they found everything was closed and had to camp out near a river. The plus being water to have a bath in aye.. I think he managed over 180kms that day, though forest tracks.

From the injury list. Shoulder is playing up along with every other body bit.

His clock says 788km completed. So that's 312km left. 2 1/2 days left.

The terrain looks unrelenting though and with every nice long downhill comes the mother of all climbs.



We all wishing him well.

 

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Another Day Another Dollar

Paul is making up some good ground today as he is nearing the West Coast after 570kms. Peeking at his ride history I see he's been keeping a good pace though I bet that behind is starting to burn :) 

I have no idea where he is planning to spend the night and I don't think he does either.

Looking at the Spot Tracker he is nearing the town of Stillwater and I don't think there are many options there. Maybe he will be pitching the tent on Steves lawn. (who's Steve? no idea, made up local)


We found out yesterday that he came off and fell down the hill, then spent the rest of the day carrying his bike though the thick soul sucking mud. I will get told these stories for years to come i'm sure.

Oh hang on a minute, after another refresh I see he's shot past Stillwater ...(Steve wasn't home?) and is approaching Blackball!! It's 8.40 and light is fading. PB wanted to make up some ground today after Day 2 was cut short by those magical reappearing beans.

Monday 6 February 2012

and he's off...

Mr Becker Jrn here. I have taken over the show while Paul is peddling around the South Island.

Air New Zealand couldn't fit his bike on his flight, so it had to be sent later that day. Cheers Mr Fyfe, slick company you have there.

But it wasn't all bad, as the bike arrived and Day 1 began.

At the Start


A brutal day at that, as I sit here with a cup of tea laughing at the Elevation charts.

We have been glued to the Computer watching a little arrow bouncing around. It is very addictive and Mum hasn't moved from the Computer seat much at all. A long 7 days ahead for all :)

Well Day 1 complete and we heard from Mr Becker. His voice was the sound of a slog was had. But upbeat and giving nothing away. We find out later that it was dang hot and he had a wee lie down under a tree. He was not alone as a few riders had spells of the nasty heat stroke.

Keeping it nice n steady on the metal


View of half of the Beast

Day 2 saw a tough start to the day, with Pauls breakfast, Baked Beans being returned back out of the place they entered. Yep. Not sure what he had eaten, but there has been a rumour that it was the Indian Rice.

Few kgs lighter Mr B heads off for another day. Today should not be as tough as yesterday, though after this mornings efforts it may be.

Tuesday 31 January 2012

4 days till start on Saturday 9am.

Zoe's Trust Account for donations is ASB 12-3031-0126670-53 


Thanks to everyone who has either already made a donation or signed up to support.
I had better make it around otherwise I will be issuing too many credits for the km not done!!
One training session left for Wednesday night, bike is all boxed up and ready to go.
I have made a last minute decision and decided to take a small cooker, tiny bit of extra weight 
but I think there will be a few nights out the middle of nowhere. All up with water on board about an extra 12kg to lug around.
Last full training ride was on Sunday with everything loaded up.




Remember you can follow the event on kiwibrevet.blogspot.com
Click on the link to live tracking.
Cheers

Monday 23 January 2012

Zoe


Happy New Year,
No I have not disappeared with the donated coin. The donations that have already come in are safely in Zoes trust account. Where is the Facebook page? we don't know. Facebook took it down and all we can get is automated replies so we gave up. Have now created this blogspot to replace it and we are still happily taking any donations.

My Kiwi Brevet ride is now only 12 days away. I have been busy training over the last 4 weeks, clocking up 1053km and 17,888 mtrs of ascent. Bike is nearly finished having rebuild so all is nearly ready for the 4th Feb start in Blenheim.

You can check the kiwibrevet.blogspot.com for all the latest ride info. From this site you will also be able to  track the progress of myself and all the other riders, so far 57 have entered.
On the kiwibrevet.blog you will also see a link to Great Southern Brevet which started  last Saturday, 1200km around Central Otago. This also has live tracking if you are interested in having a look.

I will try and do one more update next week before I set off.

Fully loaded and leaving Clevedon 6:30am heading through the Hunua Ranges to the Kaiaua Coast


Seabird viewing box on Kaiaua coast


Track from the viewing box back to the road, back through the Hunua Ranges, days ride was 12hrs, 140km, 2453 mtrs accent.

Sunday 8 January 2012

New Site and 26 days to go!!!

Hi all,

I have had to create a new site as Facebook closed my account!. I've decided to go away from them and create a Blog. 

Cheers
Paul