A few weeks back Northpower’s Rob Meadows set out on a fundraising mission to ride the length of New Zealand.
Rob and five friends were to raise money for the life-saving Northland Rescue Helicopter Service.
Seven days in and 800km into a 3000km ride, heading downhill on a gravel road in Pureora Forest Park near Taupo, Rob’s front wheel hit a pot hole and he went flying.
Fast forward an hour and Rob was on route to Waikato Hospital aboard the Greenlea Rescue Chopper – what irony!
Rob is now back home in Whangarei recovering from a broken collar bone and broken ribs but still with a smile on his face have raised $5651 with his team.
In fact, he plans to complete the ride in its entirety in two years’ time and again raise money for the Northland service. Meantime, he is working hard to get fitness back up on the indoor trainer in the virtual world of Zwift!
His mates did finish the ride and combined, their Givealittle page has passed the $5600 mark.
As for his unexpected adventure and apart from having a new appreciation for Rescue Choppers, Rob had this to say:
“When it happened I thought Bugger, it’s all over, every day was an adventure and it was so much fun. The Paramedics in the Chopper were amazing guys. They had actually picked up Paula’s husband (a team mates of Rob’s whilst doing the Timber trail ride the year previous) and flown him to Taupo. He broke his collar bone as well.”
“The rest of my team completed the trip in 23 days and on behalf of them all I want to thank everyone who donated – thank you”
“You never know when you are going to need a Rescue Chopper Service, be that in Northland, or as I found out, anywhere else around the country!”
Northpower has been a principal sponsor of the Northland Rescue Chopper service since its inception back in 1988.