Heart riders on way to bluff

ON THE ROAD:Riders in red hit the road in the name of heart disease.

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Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall offered some encouraging words and simple road safety advice before blowing a hooter to send 40 bikers on the next leg of the Great Ride for Heart.

The riders from across New Zealand, including Nelson cardiologist Andrew Hamer, arrived in Nelson yesterday as part of a 2117km ride from Cape Reinga to the Bluff.

The ride is to help raise $1 million toward setting up a $5m dedicated heart health research hub at Auckland University.

The riders were today heading for Murchison before continuing down to Bluff, expecting to arrive in time for Valentine's Day on Sunday.

Heart Foundation spokesperson Elissa Downey said it was the biggest fundraising event in the foundation's history.

"Heart disease is the single leading cause of death in New Zealand so something to look at measures to prevent it is an urgent need."

Nelsonian Peter Laing also joined the group for the three-day journey from Nelson to Christchurch.

It is his contribution to the foundation, which supported him when he needed a heart-valve replacement.

Ms Downey said the riders had given up two weeks work and had trained for up to seven months to make sure they could make the whole trip. She said the target of $1m had been reached and funds were now up to $3m.

Former prime minister Jenny Shipley is now chairwoman of the Cardiovascular Research Fund Project which is spear heading the project through the Heart Foundation.

It is a personal journey for Mrs Shipley who not only lost her father from a heart attack when she was 18, but she also had a heart attack in June 2000 shortly after being defeated at the 1999 general election.

"It is also a personal thing for most families. I want to know what I should say to my kids about it, not just that it runs in the family. I want the research to be science based."

Mrs Shipley said it felt wonderful to be back in Nelson because her family settled in the region in 1842.

She spoke at a fundraiser at the Rutherford Hotel last night which had been very successful.

"But none of it will feel finished until we have reached that $5m," Mrs Shipley said.

"We need to know why we are losing Kiwis and these doctors are leading from the front which I think is just fantastic."

To make a contribution visit heartracer.org.nz\rideforheart

- © Fairfax NZ News