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John Winkie wants to raise $80,000 in his 80th year.
Warkworth rider John Winkie, 79, is doing New Zealand’s toughest road cycling race to help find a cure for paralysis for his bedridden mate, Jim Dollimore.
Jim, a pioneer of the Mahurangi oyster industry, has been learning to walk again after breaking his neck during a cycling accident in February.
John Winkie says spinal injury is all too common in the community, whether it’s a rugby injury, or the result of a cycling or skiing accident.
John will ride the Le Race cycling event over the Port Hills, from Christchurch to Akaroa, on September 19. The route covers 90 kilometres and climbs 1600 metres.
“Our rider group assures me that it is not as steep as Matakana Valley Road,” John says.
It is going to be especially challenging on John’s antique Duckett bike, which was built after World War II for riding on cobblestone roads and across tram tracks.
John got the bike when he was 12 years old, and he has held on to it for just such an occasion.
He wants weekend cyclists to join him on a training ride on Sunday, September 6, from the Omaha Golf Club to Tawharanui and back. Meet time is 10am.
He has invited some popular cycling personalities from Auckland to attend the training and is anticipating some celebrities will attend and pull in the crowds. He hopes to raise $80,000 for the Catwalk Trust, which supports researchers who are working to find a cure for spinal cord injury.
Jim Dollimore and John Winkie are both friends of neurologist Louise Nicholson, who is on the board of the Catwalk Trust and donated $1 million of her own money to it in 2017.
There will be collection buckets at the training day in Omaha for those wanting to contribute, or see Facebook.com/antiqueroadie.
