Giving back

Every drop of sweat, aching muscle and early wake-up call is made worthwhile for Alexandra Mullin and her friends with the knowledge their hard work is for a good cause.

The four teammates will embark on an important mission: cycling the length of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga to Bluff, to give a little boy they’ve never met the freedom to walk. "It feels good doing this for someone in need," Alexandra says.

The boy behind the cause is three-year-old Oscar Cakebread, from Wellington, who was born with Spastic Diplegia Celebral Palsy, a chronic neuromuscular condition causing his leg muscles to stiffen. Oscar had surgery in London in September which has given him the independence to walk freely alongside his peers. The operation left his family with a mound of travel and medical bills.

That was the cue for Alexandra and her friends Sarah Freeman, Lauren Meyer and Caitlin Williams. They’re hoping to raise $100,000 to cover costs by forming the Cycle NZ 4 Oscar fundraising group.

Despite having never met Oscar, the women want to match their cycling goal, which they’d already committed to before hearing the child’s story, with an equally deserving cause.

Alexandra says working toward a goal has uplifted her sense of wellbeing in countless ways; the release of positive endorphins through regular exercise and a heathy diet, and the satisfaction of taking on a physical challenge are just some of the benefits.

"The wind’s in my face and I get such a thrill when I bike; I love it. I’m totally getting out of my comfort zones. I’m not even an experienced cyclist, but doing this makes me happy. Sometimes we take for granted what we have. Oscar couldn’t walk and it’s a huge challenge for him. We have to match that; we’re doing this for him," she says.

Once others got wind of the team’s random act of kindness, it quickly turned into a pay-it-forward-type concept, with schools and marae opening their doors for the team to stay throughout their journey.

The women will begin their expedition on December 10 and plan to pass through Wellington on Christmas Day, where they’ll meet Oscar and his family. Oscar’s mother Anna Williamson says it’s the best gift they could wish for. "We can never repay them, but we can focus on getting Oscar better and have him walking freely so when the girls meet him they can see what they’ve contributed to," she says.

Anna says it’s humbling knowing there are people willing to help her son find his feet. "You hear of so many awful happenings in the world, but this absolutely restores faith in humanity."