Maxine Gets On Her bike

Nelson motorcyclist Maxine Cook is so angry about Herceptin funding in New
Zealand she¹s getting on her bike to raise dust about the issue in towns and
cities around the North Island.

Max is looking for other riders for her Herceptin Peaceful Protest Ride, set
to leave Wellington in early March next year. Right now she wants to
motivate riders, male and female, to make the commitment and start their own
fundraising.

Max is 47 and says until now she¹s never been politically motivated enough
to publicly declare her feelings on anything. The number of women dying of
breast cancer has galvanised her into action.

³The lack of adequately funded treatment for breast cancer confuses and
angers me to the point where I had to do something about it,² she says.
³I've been a motorcyclist for 32 years and I've just returned from a two
month solo trip across North America where I got the idea of this protest
ride.²

The plan is to travel around the North Island, gathering up motorcycle
riders who want to change the government's stance on Herceptin funding. The
week-long ride will end at the Beehive and is timed to coincide with the
outcome of the judicial review on Pharmac's funding decision.

Max says hopefully by that stage there will be enough machines to make a
noise: ³We plan to make it hard for politicians to ignore the wishes of the
people of New Zealand who want this treatment fully funded for our women who
need and deserve it.²

Entrants for the event have to register by November 30th and will need to
raise $950.00 per motorcycle, to cover the costs of their own ride. More
detail and registration forms are available at www.herceptinriders.co.nz

Ends