New Record Attempt Cycling New Zealand From Cape Reinga to Bluff
5 – 9 MARCH 2018

Hamilton, DATE, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Young Hamilton lawyer turned builder, Tim Chittock, is taking on a record riding challenge to raise awareness for epilepsy.

Tim will attempt a new record for cycling the length of New Zealand between 5-9 March 2018, starting in Cape Reinga and ending in Bluff.

This challenge has only been attempted five times, but not completed successfully by all. The current record of 4 days and 10 hours was set by Marlborough cyclist Craig Harper in February 2017.

Tim, a Kiwi amateur cyclist and ambassador for Epilepsy New Zealand, hopes to knock off at least 10 hours from the current record. He has been training for this challenge while working full time as a builder in Hamilton.

Tim is taking on this challenge to raise awareness around epilepsy and raise much needed money for Epilepsy New Zealand.

Tim says “My younger brother developed epilepsy when he was three years old. He was having up to 100 seizures per day. He eventually and thankfully grew out of the condition when he was seven years old. As a family we were very grateful to Epilepsy New Zealand for their support and now it is time for me to do something for them in return.”

“Epilepsy is NZ’s most common neurological illness with 47,000 kiwis living with the condition. Around six people a day are diagnosed with epilepsy – numbers which are comparable with breast cancer” says Tim.

“However, despite epilepsy being so widespread there is very little government funding to support Epilepsy New Zealand – an organisation which offers support, education and guidance to those individuals and families who are impacted by the disease. It costs $1.5 million a year to run Epilepsy NZ, most of which has to come from donations.”

Tim will start his ride in Cape Reinga on Monday 5 March and all going well will be in Bluff by Friday 9 March.

He will need to cycle 525 kms a day at an average speed of 27 kms an hour to break the record. He will be riding day and night with 20 minute power naps every four to five hours.

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