Counting down to race day – late March Cure Kids fundraising & training

Alan has spent some serious sessions looking at maps and Google earth to determine exactly what are some challenging and new areas to visit in the Waitaks and also in the Hunuas. The idea is to get some pace-training and more importantly some length training outside in tricky terrain in order to maintain some traction with the young teams in the race. It’s an opportunity to escape the desk and fill-in an afternoon of action far away from the concrete. We are not, by any chance, super sporty heroes, but like most office-workers, we stare at a computer monitor for hours on end and have children and partners to organise around as well. But in order not to be total flakes in the race, and to be proper ambassadors for the Cure Kids race, we need to get out there and be grittier than the real Cure Kids children. It is really for the children who undergo much more daily grind in order to live a healthy and enjoyable life not hindered by disease. Cure Kids is a special non-profit organisation that helps support children and their families who suffer with incurable diseases and much of the proceeds of the Cure Kids race will be given to research.

Theta have had many auctions going for Cure Kids fundraising - the popular whisky tasters evening has returned, a cheese-making course for the gourmet, and after all that good food and drink, there is a personal trainer to get you fit – they are all up for a bid at auction. Other fundraising events include the recent annual BBQ lunch. Before the lunch, Toni from Cure Kids came and spoke about her life experiences with Cystic Fibrosis and how her parents were told that she was not expected to live beyond 10 years of age. After hearing about her health struggles, we all felt completely switched-on and grateful to be able to get out there and do what we can do. A few steak sandwiches were eaten and everyone at Theta contributed to raising over $950. Stories like Toni’s only pushes us further, and we feel privileged to be part of the Theta team effort. Thanks to those at Theta that helped cook and prepare all the food for the day - Mike Eustace fired-up the BBQ yet again, Sue Reed, Christine Nesbit and Amy Stack helped get all the food organised, and it was a lovely excuse to socialise out on the balcony in the sunshine for lunch.

This year, we had almost too many fit able-bodied Theta males coming along to training - it was looking to be hard to set a team with just three blokes. But Paul Casey has had to stand aside after being one of the fittest in training to now unfortunately suffering with an injury - we wish him a speedy recovery, and miss you out there in training. Julia has not so far had any competition from females - but not for the asking -where are all the sporty gals please?. The team for 2014 is shaping up to be: Alan Moore, Jon Wardrop, Jason Free and Julia Moore.

Recently we were given a mascot teddy bear to join in on training. Umm, yes how to train with a teddy? So far he hasn’t got too sweaty and muddy but he doesn’t get exhausted either, so maybe he is a contender for a team. The Theta ‘debbonaire bear’ has already been taken to a few destinations and has found value in entertaining the support troops. Whilst the team were on their long training session last week from the Theta CBD headquarters heading to the west coast - the support crew have been playing teddy bear picnics during transition duty -  yes, we have seen the incriminating photos. The camera never lies, and has found a much more tempting furry face to photograph than our departing hairy legs. Errr actually we need to thank our loyal and dedicated helpers who are supporting us on race day: Sue Reed, Adrian Simpson, Jeff Turin, Matt Owen, Martin Knazovicky and David Moncrieff. Do they all know they have all offered to cart food and drink, transport smelly shoes and mucky bikes to the right position? (Ummm please remember to separate food from whiffy shoes) and most importantly - be in the right place at the right time. The support crew motivates us to do better, they have empathy with any of our aches and pains, they are happy and enthusiastic to be involved, have a sense of humour and they take (mostly) good photos. Oh yes, another point, try to get some pics of all the team before the race starts, when we’re all fresh as a daisy, as we do not look so pretty later in the day.

So thanks so much for following our effort this year, and if you feel like supporting us, just drop a small donation towards Theta’s Cure Kids fundraising effort.

‍

‍