Rickshaw Andy’s doing it for the kids

Media Release

21 November 2014

Rickshaw Andy’s doing it for the kids

One man is confident he’ll be among the last to finish the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge on November 29th and he’s going to do it in style, in a rickshaw and for a fantastic cause.

Andy Ellison is a cycling enthusiast and a bit of a legend at the 160km event. He first turned heads for finishing the course on an old Raleigh 3-speed, and now the rickshaw is his vehicle of choice, despite a top speed of 10km an hour. But Andy isn’t just about the rickshaw; he’s fundraising some serious money for Heart Kids NZ while he’s at it.

Why? The father of four is blown away by the attitude of the thousands of kids who live with heart conditions. “These kids start life with challenges that we and our kids have never had. They just get on with life; no moaning and no ‘why me?’ – we should take a leaf out of their book,” he says.

Rickshaw Andy will be up early on the big day because he hopes to make it to the start of the 5km Kids Heart Ride where he’ll ride alongside some of the kids his fundraising will help.

Andy’s involvement with the Cycle Challenge has seen him get to know a few Heart Kids over the years, including seven-year-old Rossi Nash. Like his Mum, Emma-Kate, Rossi was born with a congenital heart defect that saw him go under the surgeon’s knife when he was only 10-months old. Heart Kids NZ has worked alongside families like the Nashes since day one, offering essential support services like home visits, support during hospital stays, information, specialist equipment and even camps for the kids.

For Rickshaw Andy it was a no-brainer to sign up to fundraise for Heart Kids NZ having seen what a difference their support makes. He knows he’ll be sore after his 12-hour challenge, and it will probably take him a few days to recover, but says that’s nothing compared with the lifelong challenges Heart Kids and their families deal with every day.

Rob Lutter, CEO of Heart Kids NZ, is thrilled that people like Rickshaw Andy are putting their bike pedals to the metal to fundraise for the organisation. “Taking on the Cycle Challenge is huge in its own right, so it’s fantastic to see the cyclists doing it not just for themselves, but to help us do what we do,” he says. “We’d like to thank everyone who has joined the Heart Kids Cycle Team – and it’s not too late to join now.”

Anyone can register for the event at www.cyclechallenge.com until November 28th.

It’s easy to fundraise for Heart Kids NZ; Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge participants can join the team and set up their online page at www.everydayhero.co.nz/event/cycleforheartkids2014

And if cycling isn’t for you, you can support Rickshaw Andy by making a donation and leaving a message. Go towww.everydayhero.co.nz/event/cycleforheartkids2014 and click on Rickshaw Andy.

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