Three hundred riders are gearing up to scooter from Christchurch to Hokitika for the Tranz Alpine Scooter Safari.
The 250km ride, on May 23, is in its 10th year and raises funds for Cancer Society Southern.
Among the teams will be Mid Canterbury’s ‘Remembering Neil’ crew riding motorised scooters in memory of their friend Neil Salter who lost his battle with cancer late last year.
Team member Clive Chapman had raised the idea with his friend Neil before his passing.
Neil’s wife Denise Clemens said she felt so honoured and she knew Neil was too that Clive and the team wanted to ride in his memory.
‘‘I know Neil felt so sad because he knew that this time he wouldn’t be there with us – maybe not in body but certainly in spirit. “They are a great group who all knew Neil,” Denise said.
Neil and Denise had been involved with the biennial ride since 2014, never on a scooter but as vital support team members.
‘‘He loved the company but he also really enjoyed helping those guys who were riding the scooters and doing the hard yards to achieve their aim of raising funds,” Denise said.
‘‘We both had a lot of admiration for people wanting to torture themselves riding those little scooters all that way in every sort of weather.
‘‘We never thought in our wildest dreams that cancer would catch up with Neil but we had lots of great memories of the safari.”
Clive has ridden in many safaris and said this year the team would have seven riders on six scooters all dressed in bright pink t-shirts.
Clive has been the lead for his team this year, organising many of the fundraisers including collections, sausage sizzles and raffle. This Sunday he has organised a slow speed training in Christchurch.
‘‘We have raised over $18,000 towards our goal of $20.000,” Clive said.
The Remembering Neil team currently sits at the top of the fundraising, followed by another Ashburton team, Team Care Bears.
Also riding for Neil, is firsttimer Caendal Harris.
The 21-year-old, along with her dad Greg, were support crew for her mum Prue Harris when she did her first ride last time.
Caendal said she got involved because her mum was involved and it looked like so much fun.
“There was a team spirit among the group and so I decided I wanted to be part of it,” she said.
Prue, like many in the ride, has a personal reason for wanting to be involved Her mum had bowel cancer and was the first person in Ashburton to have it with dealt with by stapling the bowel.
‘‘I have ridden bikes since I was 17, This was a ride I have always wanted to do so when my work colleague Shirley Harris mentioned she was a regular participant, I jumped at the opportunity to get involved,” Prue said.
Riders line up to all depart together at 9am from McLeans Island in Christchurch before stopping at Sheffield for one of 600 pies made for riders and their pit crews.
The pit crew travel ahead of riders to supply fuel, pick up any bikes that stop going and help at each of there stops including Lake Lyndon, Arthur’s Pass and Kumara Racecourse.
The riders all gather up to ride into and around Hokitika together.
‘‘The locals wait for our arrival with anticipation and welcome us with excitement,” Prue said. Riders ride in all weather. Clive said drivers are pretty good with many giving a friendly toot.
‘‘Going up Porters Pass due to the bikes being small many riders have to disembark and push the bikes up the pass.”
One year the ride couldn’t get through to Hokitika due to a slip at Otira, he said.
The Scooter Safari was created in 2009 by Jayne and Mike Rattray, born in support of their friend Blair who was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
When Blair was diagnosed, his mates decided they would band together and create the greatest Pain in the Ass fundraiser they could think of to honour his cancer journey.
Blair died in 2014.
The first ride saw 32 riders raise $14,000 for the Cancer Society.
So popular is the ride that there is a wait list to join the ride and raise funds.
The top speed scooters get up to is about 45-55km.
Neil’s team are grateful to the individuals and businesses that have supported them and their fundraising.
Í To donate to the Alpine Scooter Safari go to https://scootersafari.co.nz/#donate
