Kerikeri Cyclist Tweets His Way Through NZ

Kerikeri Cyclist Tweets His Way From One End Of Nz To The Other

Media release, Friday 22nd May, 2009: Self proclaimed overweight, unfit, workaholic Vaughan Rowsell, is calling on all the powers of the internet gods for support as he heads towards the final stages of his 2,600 km solo cycle from Stewart Island to Cape Reinga.

As an entrepreneur who is firmly attached to his digital lifelines, Vaughan has chosen to use every mobile internet resource available to him to record his journey and raise funds along the way, including blogging daily, tweeting and uploading video logs to YouTube. And the method of donation is online too, through NZ start-up Give a Little (www.givealittle.co.nz).

Inspired by his mother who has lived with a spinal injury for 45 years, Vaughan is fundraising for The Association for Spinal Concerns (TASC), a charitable trust based out of the Middlemore Hospital Spinal Unit, which assists in the rehabilitation of spinal patients and their families.

Vaughan says the trip was partly inspired by the economic doom and gloom merchants – to show them that anyone can take on a challenge and succeed by ticking something off their "impossible" list.

“I’m a self-confessed workaholic and this cycle trip has dragged me away from my desk, and helped me see that there are so many other rewarding things that you can do in life.”

Each day Vaughan jumps on his bike with enthusiasm. However, the physical grind of cycling 70-80kms each day over New Zealand’s often demanding landscape is soon eclipsed by the mental challenge to maintain motivation when things get tough.

“You might be feeling a bit low and then you receive a tweet. It’s really motivating to know that other people are interested in what you’re doing, in supporting you and in sharing in your experience.”

Vaughan’s solo ride has so far raised more than $5,000, and donations can be made at www.givealittle.co.nz.

When he reaches Auckland this weekend, Vaughan will be taking part in the Auckland Harbour Bridge crossing organised by Get Across (www.getacross.org.nz) along with his mother and others from the Spinal Unit in their wheelchairs. Up to 10,000 people are expected to gather at Pt Erin, at 9am on Sunday 24th May to cross the bridge in support of Transit enabling pedestrian and cyclist access to the bridge.

Timetable:
• Vaughan arrives in Auckland on Friday 22nd May.

• He will be crossing the Harbour Bridge with the group www.Getacross.org.nz from 9am Sunday 24th - those crossing the bridge will include his mother and others in wheelchairs from TASC.

• His trip is due to conclude at Cape Reinga eight days after leaving Auckland.

About Vaughan Rowsell

Vaughan most recently was the architect of vianet.travel, providing a complete tool-set for tourism businesses and retailers to sell product online and globally, and architect of Trade Me’s www.travelbug.co.nz, which quickly grew to become the largest source of bookable accommodation in New Zealand, from backpackers to luxury hotels.

Other past projects include developing New Zealand’s (and possibly the world’s) first tele-voting system, a mobile ordering system for one of the largest suppliers of dairy goods and their milkies, and mobile blog software, for mobile devices (a bit before it’s time in 1999).

Vaughan is currently helping a number of great online start-ups, start-up, and he is always interested in new projects.

ENDS

© Scoop Media