Riding for the Charity That Brought Them Together

Written By Kim Manunui

For more than two years, Andrew has been walking alongside his mentee, Daniel, through Upside Youth Mentoring. Now they're swapping weekly mentoring catch-ups for training rides as they prepare to take on the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge and raise funds for the charity that brought them together.

When Andrew suggested they take on the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge together, he thought it was a bit of a long shot.

"I honestly wasn't expecting Daniel to say yes," Andrew laughs. "But he was keen straight away. Once we'd got the thumbs up from his mum, I thought, 'Right, we're doing this!'"

There was just one obstacle – Daniel didn't have a bike of his own. 

That's where Commonwealth Games silver medallist and Upside Ambassador Prue Fowler stepped in. Prue, who rode the 320km Enduro with the Upside Riders last year, heard about Daniel's goal and wanted to help. With support from the team at Bicycle Superstore, she secured a Scott bike for Daniel and generously covered the remaining cost herself, making it possible for him to take on the challenge.

For the past two years, Andrew has shown up for Daniel, week after week. Now they're taking on the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge together, raising funds for the charity that brought them together. With three training rides already under their belts, they're busy clocking up the kilometres ahead of race day. On their most recent ride, Daniel proudly took the lead - a moment that made Andrew smile.

At Upside, we match young people aged 9–13 with carefully selected volunteer mentors who commit to showing up each week. By spending time together each week, mentors become another trusted adult in a young person's world - someone who listens, encourages and helps them discover their strengths.

This year, our Upside Riders are taking on the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge to help more young people experience the difference a mentor can make.

Whether you choose to ride with the Upside Riders or support Andrew and Daniel's fundraising, you'll help more young people experience the encouragement and belief that mentoring brings.

Join the Upside Riders or make a donation today.

Find out more
Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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