A Queenstowner on a charity walk the length of the South Island is ‘‘absolutely delighted’’ at having reached almost half his ambitious target of $250,000.
Matt Rose (pictured), who’s heading towards Arthur’s Pass after starting three-and-a-half weeks ago in the Marlborough Sounds, had raised $123,664 as of this Tuesday.
He’s splitting that amongst 10 charities although, following Cyclone Gabrielle, he and his wife Rachel have redirected their personal contribution to the Red Cross appeal.
Rachel says her hubby’s ‘‘going well, but it’s been pretty crazy weather’’.
He’s been very buoyed by the fundraising support he’s received, she adds — ‘‘he’s very happy it is where it’s at, and then he can focus on his walk’’.
According to his Facebook page — accessed via his fundraising website, mattsgoodwalk.nz — he experienced rain, hail and snow crossing Nelson Lakes’ Travers Saddle, ‘‘snapping a carbon pole on descent, causing a painful quad strain’’.
He also talks of ‘‘a punishing ascent of Waiau Pass in a whiteout, strong winds and rain and freezing temperatures followed by a brutal descent of dazzingly-vertical and slippery rock slab, breaking the other pole in a bad fall’’.
On the other hand, he revelled in ‘‘the tranquil beauty of the pristine waters of Blue Lake’’.
Rachel says she’s in twice-daily text contact with him via his Garmin inReach satellite phone.
‘‘People are actually following the live ‘Track Me’ feed — even my dad, who’s 86, is following it, and he’s got half his retirement village looking at it, too.
‘‘They’re delighted because they’ve got an adventure to follow.’’
Matt, 61, decided to under take his 1400-kilometre mission, on the Te Araroa Trail, primarily as ‘‘a personal journey’’ in response to mental challenges he’s faced.
He’s also decided to fundraise for charities close to his heart.
These are Melanoma New Zealand, Rainbow Youth, Christchurch City Mission, Antarctic Heritage Trust, Braintree Wellness Centre, Champion
Foundation Trust, Wakatipu High School Foundation, Bruce Grant Youth Trust and Hollyford Conservation Trust.
The other charity’s the Wakatipu Community Foundation, for an endowment fund to support mental health initiatives — it’s also administering his fundraising.
