B.C. man to cycle length of New Zealand to raise funds for Movember
CTV
Stretching 3,000 kilometres from the tip of New Zealand to its southernmost point, with just a bicycle for transport and a tent to call home, bikepacking event Tour Aotearoa is not for the faint of heart.
Stretching 3,000 kilometres from the tip of New Zealand to its southernmost point, with just a bicycle for transport and a tent to call home, bikepacking event Tour Aotearoa is not for the faint of heart.
Marc Vaillancourt isn’t intimidated by the hefty challenge, however, he’s too driven by the prospect of change.
The 37-year-old Vancouver resident is currently pedalling the Land of the Long White Cloud to raise awareness for men’s mental health, and raise funds in collaboration with international fundraising campaign Movember. The journey, crafted to highlight New Zealand cycling tours and the country’s natural beauty, follows a combination of cycle trails, tracks, paths and country lanes and is embarked on by hundreds each day.
Vaillancourt, who touched down in Auckland Nov. 15 and is currently three days into his mighty adventure, says he feels “well prepared” for the gruelling days that lie ahead.
A physical education teacher and avid outdoorsman, Vaillancourt had first come across Tour Aotearoa ten years ago while flicking through an edition of adventure magazine Carnet d'aventures.
He was in the midst of running and hiking France’s Tour du Mont Blanc, one of the most popular long-distance walks in Europe, and was intrigued by the prospect of completing a similar challenge with only a bike and a few supplies.
Plus, he adds, he’s a “huge fan” or Lord of the Rings, and so, naturally, a new bucket list adventure was born.
