While some people are sitting on the couch at home watching television, east Auckland resident Gerald Patterson is slogging his guts out cycling across the United States.
The chairperson of the Howick Village Association is undertaking the monumental bike ride with a group from New Zealand, the United Kingdom and US to raise money for a good cause.
They set out on May 18 to ride from San Francisco in California to New York, a distance of 5150km over 36 days.
The three Kiwi riders in the group are raising money for Motor Neurone Disease NZ.
According to the organisation, motor neurone disease is the name “given to a group of closely-related disorders that affect the motor neurones”.
“Upper motor neurones run from the brain to the brainstem or spinal cord to connect with lower motor neurones.
“Lower motor neurones then travel out to connect with the muscles for swallowing, chewing, tongue movement, facial expression, breathing, coughing, and limb movement.”
The three Kiwi riders have so far raised $49,654 for Motor Neurone Disease NZ.
Patterson previously told the Times he’s doing the ride because he enjoys cycling as well as a challenge and it’s an “opportunity to join friends in raising money to assist a very worthy cause”.
He’s sending regular email updates to supporters back home. His June 16 report on his journey states the group’s members have covered more than 4200km so far.
“I’m pleased I did plenty of altitude training over the months before the ride!,” he says.
They’ve been riding in Ohio for two days and will next head into Pennsylvania and then West Virginia.
“The past week has been fairly straight and flat. Today it was good to have some variety with hills again.
“It did mean a bit more effort was required but kept the concentration levels higher.
“Weather has remained hot and dry with in the mid 30’s Celsius.
“Plenty of drink stops required. We have also tried starting at 7am some mornings to avoid the heat later in the day.
“Over the past week or so I have also taken to pouring iced water over my arm sun protectors and even at time filling them with ice; make for great mobile air-conditioning units!
“Tonight we are camped near Miltonsburg, Ohio.
“We are not getting too excited however tomorrow we are on day 30 so not too far to go until R&R (rest and relaxation) time in New York.
“There are still a few miles to cover and concentration needed at all times.”
Patterson’s recent report from the road says the Rotary Club of Pakuranga, of which he is a member, has donated another $1000 to Motor Neurone Disease NZ.
“A great gesture and well appreciated,” he says.
An earlier update from him, on June 1, which was day 13 of his ride, says it had proved to be an unlucky one.
“We were scheduled to ride across the last pass of the Rockies for a 120km ride.
“The pass was closed due to snow and ice. The only alternative was a 220km route using Interstate roads which do not allow cyclists.
“We could have ridden secondary roads but the distance would have been even greater.
“Safety is paramount on this trip so the decision was made to forgo cycling for one day.
“The drive itself was spectacular and required reaching an altitude of over 11,100 ft and even then driving through a tunnel to avoid an even higher altitude.
“It was amazing how some of the areas on the decent resembled Swiss/Austrian villages with similar scenery and house designs.
“Today was officially a rest day and we all took the opportunity to look around Estes.
“Very much a resort town and not dissimilar to Queenstown with its tourism focus.”
People can donate to Patterson’s fundraising efforts online at https://mnd-new-zealand-fundraise.raisely.com/gerald-patterson.
