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Two Coasties are halfway through a Run 4-Life fundraising challenge that will see them run and cycle the distance from London to Auckland – all without leaving the area.
As of mid-August, Trevor Wallis, of Gulf Harbour, and Carly Webster have covered more than 11,300 kilometres – mostly on a treadmill and exercise bike but also on local roads – about the distance between London and Cairns in Queensland.
They began the epic trip on January 2, and are well on track to complete the 18,337 km distance before New Year’s Eve.
Trevor, 63, is a former Ōrewa police officer who has always enjoyed keeping fit. He is running the required distance for the challenge, and Carly, manager of Whangaparāoa Golf Club, mostly cycles.
They are fundraising for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Trevor’s father died of prostate cancer, during the Covid-19 pandemic, which he says was a huge motivation for the fundraiser.
“I’m also a member of the golf club where Carly is the manager, and some members there have been affected by prostate cancer too,” Trevor says. “I saw Carly training at the gym all the time, and we decided to put all that fitness to good use. We’re both from the UK originally, so that’s why the route was chosen. It was going to be just running, but we added the cycling to cover those kilometres a bit faster.”
Meeting the target requires covering the equivalent of 25km every day of the year. Carly cycles each day and Trevor fits the running in around his shift work commitments.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand and the number one cancer affecting Kiwi men. More than 4000 Kiwi men are diagnosed each year and around 700 die.
“All these men deserve to live their best life, and hundreds of families do not deserve to have their loved one taken away too soon,” Trevor says.
The pair use a spreadsheet to keep track of their progress, and staff at the City Fitness Whangaparāoa gym also do so separately, providing added assurance for funders that no shortcuts are being taken.
So far, around $1200 has been raised by the pair.
To support Trevor and Carly: https://fundraise.prostate.org.nz/fundraisers/run4life/run-4-life
Check mate
The advice from the Cancer Society is to be aware of the symptoms and consult your doctor with any concerns. • If you have prostate symptoms such as problems peeing or blood in your pee or semen, see your doctor to get checked. Many conditions cause these symptoms, not just prostate cancer, but they should not be ignored. See your doctor to be sure. • Checks for prostate cancer symptoms normally involve a blood test, called the PSA test, and a digital rectal examination. • If you have a family history of prostate cancer, talk to your doctor. You may benefit from tests starting from around age 40. Having a family history does not mean that you will get prostate cancer, but it means you may be more likely to develop it. • Prostate-specific antigen or PSA is a protein produced by the prostate. The PSA test measures the amount of PSA in a sample of blood (a blood test). Many people have a high PSA level. A high level does not always mean there is cancer. • Making a decision to get checked for prostate cancer is different for everyone. Before making a decision, it’s good to know the benefits and risks of getting checked. Talk with your doctor about PSA testing and there is an online tool to help your decision making:kupe.net.nz Source: Cancer Society NZ
