USO bike ride to pass through Hastings

Hastings is to welcome a group of cyclists who are attempting to ride the length of the country to raise cancer awareness amongst Maori and Pacific Island men.

The USO Bike Ride 2012 began from Cape Reinga on Saturday (13th October) and the 10 riders are expected to cycle into Hastings on Thursday (18th October). The ride to Bluff is to raise cancer awareness and encourage men to have regular health checkups.

On Thursday the participants will ride the 155 kilometre leg of the event from Taupo to Hastings. Hastings District Council Sustainable Transport Engineer Owen Mata says “We want to celebrate the arrival of the riders in Hastings by having as many people as possible join them for a gentle ride down Oak Road and on to the Cook Island Community Centre in Flaxmere.”

“The USO riders will be at the Oak Road/Evernden Road intersection at 2pm and everyone is encouraged to join in the last part of this testing ride. The riders will use the iWay network of pathways and cyclelanes on their ride through Hastings.”

The USO group includes former Hawks basketball coach T Taufele, who is leading the project, and Hawke’s Bay based Tama McGrath and Terry Papworth.

Owen Mata says “This is such an amazing project and the riders are demonstrating an incredible commitment to helping improve the health of Maori and Pacific Island men. The iWay project is not just about creating infrastructure, it is also about promoting the advantages which come from regular cycling and walking. This dovetails nicely with the USO Bike Ride 2012 which is promoting the message of healthy living through exercise and diet.”

The USO riders leave Flaxmere on Friday 19th October at the start of the 175 kilometre leg to Palmerston North. They are expected to finish the 2084 km ride to the bottom of the South Island on Friday 26th October.

NOTE: USO is a Samoan word meaning brother or can be used in the same context when a female refers to her sister