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

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
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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.

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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
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