Loopy Rider puts his legs to the test for charity cause

Loopy Rider puts his legs to the test for charity cause

Cyclist Owen Johnston is putting his legs on the line to raise awareness and fundraise for Youthline.

He is riding around Lake Taupo as part of the Enduro Challenge on November 30 starting at 1:30am.

Owen, 34, has been training since November last year for this ride.

“Youthline provides a vital service that helps our youth through tough times. I'm putting my legs on the line so they can keep on changing their lives for the better,” he said.

His mission is to ride 320km, (which equates to 2 loops around Lake Taupo) in the Taupo Cycle Challenge.

He said he started cycling when he was a kid and then he got spotted at a school race and went onto Track cycling.

His cycling challenge journey started in November 2012.

A key reason that Owen has chosen to take on the Taupo challenge was because he has had his own battles with depression.

He said: “You’re not alone and don’t need to feel embarrassed or ashamed asking for help. It's not a sign of weakness.”

He saw the ride as a chance to turn something potentially negative into something positive.

“I wanted to get back into cycling and (it seemed like a good time to do it.)”

He stumbled across this ride (in particular) and thought it would be a good challenge.

He admits it is quite a physical challenge but said “Your body will do whatever your mind tells it that it can do.”

He said the training has been made easier because he has a lovely supportive wife Sarah and a 1 year-old daughter Nina.

When he isn’t cycling for charity he works as a designer at Designworks.

For more information check Owen out on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/loopyride

To donate to his cause go to http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/loopyride

ENDS

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