Press Release
January 21, 2011

Olympic gold medallist to join Poverty Cycle event

Beijing Olympic boardsailing gold medallist Tom Ashley will complete a leg of TEAR Fund’s North Island Poverty Cycle event starting on Tuesday February 22.

The North Island tour is over 11 days covering almost 900 kms. The event starts in Whangarei and finishes in Wellington, where the cyclists will meet members of the South Island tour. The aim of the tour is to raise money for at-risk children and youth in New Zealand and overseas in TEAR Fund’s Compassion child projects.

TEAR Fund events manager Sarah Jamieson said it was fantastic to have another high calibre name onboard for the launch of the first Poverty Cycle event. Tom had agreed to take time out from his busy training schedule to take part in the leg of the event from Auckland to Pukekohe, she said.

Ashley said he was excited about taking part in the event. “The beauty of the Poverty Cycle is that those who love cycling like I do, can enjoy the ride and help others at the same time. It is also great that some of the funds raised are going to help local youth charities like Brothers in Arms and 24-7 Youth, as well as the work that TEAR Fund is doing for poor and disadvantaged children overseas.”

Ms Jamieson said, Ashley would join other sporting celebrities who have got behind the event such as former All-Black Michael Jones, Kiwi tri-athlete Clark Ellice, and rising tri-athlete star Michael Poole.”

Other Poverty Cycle endorsers include television and radio personalities Clinton Randell and Jon Bridges, and hip-hop dance artist, Elly Pascoe.

Ms Jamieson said there were still places on the tours for those who wanted a cycle challenge that would also make a difference. “If people can’t commit to the whole tour, individuals or groups can enter any of the stages of either the North or South Island, but time is running out. Ideally, people will need to register soon at www.povertycycle.org.nz and get fundraising.”

Each entrant received their own fundraising page on the website to help them raise money. The target for entrants in the 11-day event was $5000 or $500 for each stage, she said.

The Poverty Cycle also includes four family-friendly cycling events in major centres. The Poverty Cycle Iconic Rides will be held in Auckland, New Plymouth, Nelson and Christchurch on Saturday March 5. “Again, people will have to register soon on the website to raise an initial target of $500.” There are prizes for the people in each centre who raised the most money. The money raised will go to charities in the four centres and to TEAR Fund’s Compassion projects overseas. The local charities are Brothers in Arms, in Auckland, and 24-7 in Christchurch, Nelson and New Plymouth.

ENDS

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