My Big Idea

Two Golden Bay women are hopping on their bikes and taking to the road to raise funds for two very worthy causes. Sandy McKay explains …

PHOTO CARRIE DOBBS

What is your big idea? We are two mothers who have each gone through experiences that have impacted our mental health, and we are raising funds for the Mental Health Foundation and a local Golden Bay organisation, Te Whare Mahana.

Why a cycle trip? We are cousins, Jo-Anna McKay and Sandy McKay. Jo-Anna’s son Jack Robertson lost his battle for life, suiciding in late 2018. I lost my son to cot death in infancy. Both events reshaped our lives. This came about when Jo-Anna was making Jack’s favourite mud cake for the first birthday after his passing. Jo-Anna, after having a complete meltdown, decided that from then on she would celebrate Jack’s life on these occasions

12 by doing something fun and physical. She contacted me in April saying, “You are the only one I know who would be crazy enough to do this. Would you bike the South Island with me to celebrate Jack’s life, starting on his birthday March 6 next year 2020? I want to celebrate Jack’s life by challenging myself.” My first reaction was, “Why not?” My second reaction was, “Some training will be needed here, actually quite a lot, eeeek!”

What does it involve? So here we are. We set off from Farewell Spit on Jack’s 2020 birthday – the 6th of March – to ride our bikes to Bluff, supported by family and friends along the way. It’s exciting for us, raising funds and awareness of the importance of mental health. This is one friend helping another realise a dream. We are calling it the ‘Leave it on the road tour’. From experience we both believe that the following two things can help your mental health:

1. Exercise is a saving grace, you just need to put one foot after the other. Moving forward seems to bring some comfort to your thoughts. 2. Surround yourself with supportive people who can bring laughter to you. Laughter, even in the hard times, can lift you up just a little.

All funds from this Givealittle page and raffle will go to the Mental Health Foundation, who work tirelessly in an area of health often overlooked, and Te Whare Mahana, a local Golden Bay organisation committed to helping people with their mental health. Jo-Anna contacted Rev Bikes in Richmond to ask if they would consider donating one of their e-bikes to the ‘Leave it on the road tour’. Owner Ross Keeley so very kindly chose to sponsor us by providing a $4000 Vitage Vacay e-bike for us to ride and raffle.

How can people support us? By making donations to the ‘Givealittle’ page link below. www./givealittle.co.nz/cause/twomothers-biking-the-south-island

Join our ‘Leave it on the road tour’ Facebook page to follow our journey and message us to buy the Vacay e-bike raffle tickets.

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