Her first cycle tour was 20 years ago, when she was travelling through the USA and UK. More recently, she completed the 260km Alp to Ocean ride with Indy on board and half way through, decided that a trip along Aotearoa might be their next adventure.
“Indy is a big, beautiful, intelligent dog and people just love him,” says Leisa. “The trip is going to be about him and the interaction he has with the people we’ll meet along the way.
Leisa has set up a givealittle page to raise funds for her chosen charities – she has chosen one per region that she will be cycling through and all have a personal significance to her and her family and friends. She is going to meet her own and Indy’s personal costs throughout the four month trip. They are planning to leave Cape Reinga on October 1 2015 and hopes to have reached Christchurch about New Year’s Day 2016.
Auckland – Akl Rescue Helicopter Trust
Hawkes Bay – Cranford Hospice
West Coast – Westcoast Coast Guard
Canterbury – SPCA
Otago – Otago Medical Research Foundation
Marlborough – NZ Falcon Trust
Tasman – Marlborough Environmental Trust
Northland – Sport Northland
Wellington – Capital Performing Arts
Nelson – (to be confirmed)
Manawatu – Musa
Waikato – Cambridge Riding for the disabled
Southland – Number 10
Leisa is looking for volunteers and participants to join her along the way. She will be updating her Facebook page though out the trip and cyclists of all ages and abilities are welcome to join in for as long as they like. “People can ride along for an hour, a week or the whole trip,” she says. “I hope people come and join in – we have such a beautiful country and there is so much to see.
“My aim is to encourage participants to fund raise for the sections they choose to ride. These donations will be pledged directly to the Spark free website "Give a Little" due to the way the site works all funds will be collected in one account and evenly distributed to the 13 named charities.”
She also is looking for four volunteers to acts as support drivers. Indy travels in his own trailer, but there will be some parts of the trip where it will be more appropriate for him to travel in a car. She is hoping to have each volunteer with her for a month, where they will drive alongside her with her gear, co-ordinate other cyclists and lend a hand where necessary. “The volunteers will have to have a good sense of humour and adventure,” she says.
She is taking camping gear with her, but is hoping to stay with friends or supporters along the way too. Describing herself as the “organiser, promoter, cyclist, cook and bottle washer” for the trip, Leisa is an enthusiastic and energetic person who values the opportunity to get out and have an adventure.
If you’d like to find out more about volunteering, participating or donating, click here.