Builder Gets His Skates on “Tutu” Support Charity

18 June 2009

Builder Gets His Skates on “Tutu” Support Charity

Nigel Lowe loves a challenge. And that’s exactly what he got when his wife, Shelley, dared him to roller skate from Otara to Manukau City dressed in a pink tutu.

Along with his skates, tool belt and tutu, Nigel, a Building and Construction lecturer at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), will be putting on a brave face when he takes to the streets of Manukau next Thursday, 25 June.

But Nigel, a former celebrity bodyguard, admits to having some reservations about his forthcoming exploits.

“I haven’t roller skated for ten years so apart from the embarrassment factor I’ll be just concentrating on staying in one piece. I’m trying to fit in some practice but I have to admit, this is the scariest thing I’ve ever done - even scarier than when I had to protect Arnold Schwarzenegger at a movie premiere.”

At 6ft 7” and 130kgs, Nigel will stop rush hour traffic when he skates from his MIT construction classroom in Otara to the Westfield Shopping Mall in Manukau City. But this isn’t an act of exhibitionism or foolishness. Nigel is hoping to raise cash to get himself to Africa. His mission will see him spending four weeks in the blazing African sun using his building skills to craft homes in Ethiopian villages under Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village project.

Faced with the dilemma of raising $7,500 to fund his trip, Nigel racked his brain for fundraising ideas. It was then that Shelley came up with the roller skating tutu challenge.

“I think this was originally meant as a joke,” says Nigel. “The problem is that I never shy away from a challenge, especially if it involves supporting a good cause. I’ll be armed with my collection bucket and a big smile hoping the people of Manukau dig deep in their pockets to show me their support, or should that be pity!”

During his trip, which takes place this September, Nigel and his fellow Kiwi workers will also help with essential maintenance work on orphanages and a local hospital.

To raise cash Nigel is even offering his building skills to the public in exchange for sponsorship or a donation. Donations can be made to a trust account with ANZ bank or via Nigel’s webpage at www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/nigellowe.

Nigel plans to leave MIT at 8am on Thursday 25 June and depending on his skating ability aims to arrive at Westfield Shopping Mall in Manukau City between 9 – 9.30am.

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