Words by Annie Studholme
During the week, the Rescue Warriors are ordinary Mid-Canterbury blokes. Come February, they’ll transform into Lycra-clad superheroes once again, biking the length of the country to raise money for Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue’s Mission 26.
Back in 2022, Bruce Kell, David Keeley, Willy Leferink, and Warren Harris biked from Cape Reinga to Bluff as part of the Tour Aotearoa Brevet, a self-supported 3,000 km journey. The event is not a race; it’s a ride that follows a set course, with participants navigating through 30 photo checkpoints, all of which must be completed within 10 to 30 days.
Initially sparked by the challenge of proving their bodies were not yet ready to be put out to pasture, at its heart, they saw it as a way of supporting the life-saving service that is vital to everyone living outside our main centres. To begin with, the self-proclaimed Rescue Warriors hoped to raise about $25,000 but exceeded expectations, raising more than $103,000.
When talk of a second attempt was mooted, the hands went up. Having not made the entire trip last time due to an ongoing knee injury, Warren Harris was one of the first to sign up, along with his fellow original Rescue Warriors. The group has now swelled to 12 riders, primarily comprising members from the Hinds Lions Club and their wider contacts, aged 59 to 74 years.
Five muscle riders - Bruce Kell, David Keely, Willy Leferink, Mark Holmes, and Mark Cressey - plan to set off from Bluff and ride north to Cape Reinga using pedal power on traditional bikes, while Team Live - Warren Harris, Richard Andrews, Brian Beeston, Brian Ellis, Graeme Thomas, Dave Pederson and Duncan Barr - will set off from Cape Reinga and ride south on E-bikes on February 10. While they follow the Tour Aotearoa Brevet, they are not part of the official event, as it does not have an E-bike section. The two groups will meet up at some point on the way, then continue onwards.
With the journey less than six months away, the reality of what lies ahead is hitting home, says E-bike team member Duncan Barr. “We started talking about it about just over a year ago, and as crazy as it sounds, it sounded like a great idea back then,” he laughs.
“We all have our own personal reasons for taking part. Everyone has different health issues as we age, so we’re doing it while we can, because we don’t know what is around the next corner. We have all lost loved ones and friends recently, which has hit home for a number of us. None of us is getting any younger, so you have to make the most of these opportunities when they appear”.
Training is in full swing, with the team putting in some serious kilometres on their bikes in preparation. “It’s all about getting your bum ready to sit on the seat for up to eight hours a day.” The teams aim to cover between 100 and 150km a day.
Being able to do it while raising much-needed funds for Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue’s Mission 26 made it all worthwhile, says Duncan. “We are doing it for a good cause. The helicopters are an essential service for those living rurally across New Zealand. They’re a lifeline for many; there’s an expectation that they’ll be there in all conditions, and with the upgrades, they will be able to attend 20 per cent more calls. We all know someone who has used this essential service, so it is a privilege to raise funds for this great cause.”
The Mission 2026 campaign marks a major transformation for the rescue helicopter service, aiming to raise funds to upgrade the fleet and invest in new equipment, IFR capability, and crew training.
The Hinds and District Lions started the fundraising with a $10,000 donation, and the Rakaia Lions Club contributed $20,000 from their golf tournament. The Rescue Warriors ride will occur from February 10 to early March, with participants wearing GPS trackers for live progress updates on their Facebook page, Rescue Warriors NZ 3000 km Bike Tour.