Record Numbers for Hospi Bike Ride

The Foundation's third annual Hospi Bike Ride received record numbers this year as 325 cyclists took to their bikes on Sunday 13th March.

The annual 52km bike ride, hosted by Wellington Hospitals & Health Foundation and Cyclosport, raised funds for Wellington Children's Hospital and Canterbury Earthquake Relief.  Named after the Foundation mascot HOSPI, every cyclist who completed the ride received their own HOSPI toy and Powerade drink.

Riding from Kenepuru Hospital (Porirua) to Wellington Hospital (Newtown), cyclists encountered a number of challenging hills and a peaceful ride through Makara Valley and past the beach at Owhiro Bay.

It took between 1 hour, 24minutes and 3 hours, 45minutes for the ride to be completed.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Patron of the Hospi bike ride, breezed through the ride at a confident 2 hours, 41 minutes.  "It is a wonderful cause and I am honoured to be involved" said Her Worship.

Several corporate and social teams also took part in the Hospi this year with local barristors and solicitors, Buddle Findlay entering a team as well as IT company Catalyst and the Department of Internal Affairs.  A large contingent of staff from Capital and Coast District Health Board also rode to support their youngest patients.

Our sincere thanks go to all sponsors and supporters of the event, particularly Wellington and Porirua City Councils, Wellington Free Ambulance, the Brotherhood of Old Bikers, Powerade, Woolworths and Whittakers Chocolate.

We also received some fantastic prizes for the event from Bluebridge, Prime Hotels, Suzuki, Noel Leeming, AvantiCycles, Vic Cycles, Mud Cycles and Reading Cinemas.

To view photos from the event, visit www.facebook.com/hospibikeride.