Couple ride nation for cancer fight
On our first date she told me about her idea and I said: %26lsquo;Yeah, I%26rsquo;ll do that%26rsquo;, he says.
After nearly a year filled with adventure, excitement and the odd broken bone, Kerrin%26rsquo;s hooked.
The Auckland couple started their journey last May, riding and driving a horse and cart from Cape Reinga to Bluff and back to raise money for CanTeen.
So far they have raised nearly $25,000 for the charity, which supports teenage cancer patients, and they still have a month of their trip left.
Tomorrow they will ride up Queen St in a sulky pulled by their horse Doof to meet mayor John Banks in Aotea Square.
The couple are both media graduates and decided to make a documentary and book of their journey.
There will be more stories in the book because you can%26rsquo;t capture everything on film. If we didn%26rsquo;t do the book, people might not believe the documentary.
We%26rsquo;re doing something so extreme, fitting a whole lifetime of events into one year, says Kerrin.
Genevieve originally planned for them to do a shorter ride around the North Island just for fun.
But Kerrin suggested they travel the South Island as well and use the trip to raise money for a charity.
For a whole year, we might as well make it worthwhile and do it for a good cause, she says.
They chose to support teenage cancer patients and say the cause helped keep them motivated.
It%26rsquo;s such a tough period in life. To have cancer thrown into the mix as well is so incredibly tough. All their attitudes are so amazing, says Kerrin.
CanTeeners put us all to shame. They always have big smiles and I don%26rsquo;t know where they get their energy, he says.
The pair started out riding on horseback, but Kerrin had an operation which meant he couldn%26rsquo;t ride any more, so they swapped to a sulky.
They say people have been supportive and businesses have sponsored many aspects of their trip.
Friends and family have also joined in, taking turns to follow the two in a motorhome.
It%26rsquo;s been awesome, we%26rsquo;ve had heaps of adventures, says Genevieve.
The Revells will ride up Queen St at 11.45am and CanTeen collectors will be at Aotea Square.
People can also text canteen to 883 to make an automatic $3 donation or visit the website www.downacrossup.co.nz to donate online.
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Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 am under