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Rowing, whether on the water or indoor machine, is something Blair Cranston has been doing for around 40 years.
In the coming months, the 62-year-old gets to put that skill, as well as a fair dose of perseverance, to the test with an epic 1892km indoor row (the distance from NZ to Australia) to raise awareness and money for Big Buddy.
The Stanmore Bay Bayleys real estate agent says the idea came up after he completed a marathon on his rowing machine last year.
Big Buddy is a charity that matches seven to 14-year-old boys who do not have a father in their lives with men who can be a reliable mentor and friend – Blair has been 10-year-old Linus’ Big Buddy for two years. Together they go fishing, take walks, shoot arrows or hang out and chat.
Blair says with his own son grown up, these were things he had missed doing.
“I had a bit of spare time to give and used to enjoy doing things with my son that he doesn’t necessarily want to do with me anymore, now that he’s 24. With some kids going off the rails at the moment, Big Buddy is something positive that I can put my time and effort into.”
He says his main inspiration was the example of his own father.
“My father was firm, but fair. He was tough on bad behaviour and demonstrated the difference between right and wrong. He provided me with a sense of security and confidence that has stayed with me and that I hope to pass onto Linus,” he says.
For Linus’ mum, Laura, the steady contact for Linus has taken the pressure off.
“Being alone in New Zealand without extended family, it has been a challenge to be everything,” she says. “Linus has the perspective of another adult to help mould his world view and the confidence that there is someone else he can rely on.”
On Tuesday, September 27, Blair will begin rowing every day – either at Club Physical gym in Whangaparāoa or at home – recording all the kilometres on an app. He plans to row 30km daily, over three sessions a day, seven days a week. At that rate, he will be rowing for two to three months.
The aim is to raise awareness of what Big Buddy does, as well as to bring in around $30,000 – enough to match 15 more buddies with boys who need them.
At the gym, the public and a number of high profile sportspeople will be able to row alongside Blair. Bayleys is donating $1 for every kilometre that someone else rows.
Olympic rower Eric Murray will be among those taking part, with more yet to be confirmed.
Blair says he has done a lot of training and preparation, including sticking to a strict nutrition plan.
However, he says it will be as much a mental challenge as physical.
“As anyone who has rowed on a machine knows, it can be a grind. But I’m excited to get started.”
For more information and to support Blair, go to www.bigbuddy.org.nz/trans-tasman-row/ Note: Big Buddy’s policy is that only first names of little buddies and their families are used to protect their privacy.
