Deb Moncur decided she wanted to do something to honour David’s memory and support the work of both Melanoma New Zealand and Hospice New Zealand – organisations close to her heart. 
Deb started training to cycle the Te Araroa trail in February 2022. The ride is 3,000kms long, and Deb will cycle the trail over a 35-day period to travel from Cape Reinga in the North Island to Bluff in the South Island. She hopes her journey will help raise important funds for both organisations, and raise awareness of the symptoms of melanoma, and the importance of prevention and early detection.
“I had a running injury, so that was out, and I took up biking instead,” she says. “I’m not sporty at all, nor am I a competitive biker, so training for a bike ride of this length is challenging for me. “I need to be able to bike around 100kms a day during the ride to be comfortable, and my training has been a bit spasmodic during the pandemic. I am currently averaging between 30-40kms three to four times a week, so I am really focussed on getting my average up over the next couple of months.
“I’ve raised more than $2000 to date via Givealittle and will continue fundraising until after the ride. I’m hooking up with a tour group that will carry my luggage and meet me at a designated point with my lunch every day. I will be staying in cabins and will be with a group of 16 people whom I haven’t met yet.
“I am meeting my own costs of doing the ride, and all the funds raised will be split equally between Melanoma New Zealand and Hospice New Zealand,” says Deb.