Welcome to John Masters's Fundraising Page

John Masters's Fundraising Page

The long, painful walk with Winchman Dave and Paramedic Iain to the Chatham Islands International Terminal to await my transfer to the Air Ambulance.

Minder Gary, fellow snorer and old bloke, Raymondo, Super Doc, David and Nursey Skipper Dee from our yacht "Imagine it. Done", visit me after my first operation to make sure I am still alive and my sense of humour is still intact!

3 years and 3 operations later I did what I was told, "got on my bike" and knocked the top off the Takaka Hill. Now for The Big Pedal around the South Island with 'Hot Rod'.

PAGE CREATOR:	John Masters
EVENT:	The Big Pedal
EVENT DATE:	18/11/2008

Thank you for reaching my page.

On January 2nd 2005, while I was competing in the Global Challenge Round the World yacht race a small red and yellow Life Flight helicopter hovered above our yacht "Imagine it. Done". We were 150 kilometres south east of the Chatham Islands. I had been suffering from severe abdominal pains for 11 days and it came for me. I was plucked from the yacht and taken to the Chathams. There I was transferred to their fixed wing air ambulance and flown to Wellington where I received emergency surgery. It was one of Life Flights longest and most dangerous missions and involved over 100 people. Along with the amazing medical skills of the yacht's doctor and seamanship of the skipper and crew, they saved my life.

Now, 4 years and 3 major operations later, and with a gradual return to fitness I am circumnavigating the South Island from Cape Farewell in the north to Slope Point in the south by cycle, to celebrate my rescue, the bravery of the helicopter crew in such extreme conditions and the team work of everybody involved.

This rescue trust and those like it rely on donations to survive and had it not been for the generosity of others who have donated in the past I would not have been rescued and my happy ending would have been a tragedy instead. Others who have been rescued will vouch for the fact that we never ever thought we would need rescuing, but are very, very grateful when the red and yellow machine just turns up out of the blue and takes us to safety.

I start "The Big Pedal" on 18th November with a friend from England. I plan to finish on 2nd January 2009, the 4th anniversary of my dramatic rescue and would like you to follow me as I cycle the 3,000 kms by logging into my blogs as I go. I also invite you to join me in contributing to the Life Flight Trust Charity Fund so that they are in a better position to continue their life saving missions. We all hope we dont need them, but we never know and if we do, they will be there in all weathers, and risking their own lives to rescue us. What a team!!

Since my rescue I have donated a $1 a day to their cause and will start the wheels rolling with my annual donation. Please help by adding to the fund.

Many, many thanks.
John Masters
"Ageing Bull" of "Imagine it. Done" 2004-2005

My Online Sponsors To Date
DATE	NAME	AMOUNT	COMMENT
29/01/2009	Brenda	$20.00	Hi John, Heres the donation from my workmate Jude. Well done!
23/01/2009	Brian & Barbara McKay	$100.00	Well done John. That was an amazing effort. What are you going to do now?
18/01/2009	Graham & Maureen	$50.00	Congratulations John and Lorraine. A great effort.
12/01/2009	Public Donations	$30.00
10/01/2009	Pam & Joe Dance	$76.00	Well done John and well done Lorraine. We can't believe you suffered no more than sore B.O.M.B.
08/01/2009	Pat & Trevor Brown	$20.00	Congratulations and well done to both of you. From the flag waving, all cheering, crowd pulling Waimate Fan Club
06/01/2009	Sylvia Watson	$50.00	Warm congratulations on your stunning accomplishment. What a great way to celebrate the beginning of the new year.
02/01/2009	Graeme and Pam Burrows	$50.00	Nice one John. Pam thinks 'B.O.M.B.' means 'Bones Of My Bum'.
02/01/2009	Doug and Jan Sowman	$50.00	Great effort. Sandflies are so called in the NZ bush because while there is little sand there are many Beech trees
02/01/2009	Aunt Rose	$20.00	Good on you John. I am proud of you.
01/01/2009	Cathy & Mat	$100.00	Well done Uncle John. Australia next?
31/12/2008	Rawcliffes Inc at the Ranch	$100.00	No deductions for tp Well done Jono was great sharing fellowship with you even though you were in bed most of the time thanks Lorrianne for cleaning the silver, planting the garden, baking carrot cakes and muffins and cooking meals, come back i'm still behind in my office
31/12/2008	Neptunes International Backpackers Greymouth	$10.00	Thanks for coming here. Great ride John.
31/12/2008	Pine Grove Motel, Fox Glacier	$10.00	Great effort.
31/12/2008	Flaxbush Motels Hari Hari	$50.00	We think what you are doing is won derful. Well done.
31/12/2008	Heritage Park Lodge	$45.00	You are riding for a worthy cause. Good luck with your ride up the West Coast
31/12/2008	Jill and Colin	$100.00	A magnificent effort John. You have a body to be proud of now.
31/12/2008	Kitty Polglaze	$20.00	A great effort John.
31/12/2008	Margaret Cederman	$20.00	Well done John. I am pleased you listened to your body.
31/12/2008	Margie	$100.00	well done johnny boy
31/12/2008	Jacqui & Kurt	$1,000.00	Hope the challenge is going well. We have been following Dee Caffari's progress in the Vendee Globe. I wonder who will finish their challenge first (cheeky!!!)
29/12/2008	Christine and Philip Haythornthwaite	$30.00	Good luck, John and Lorraine hope the last days go well. Chris and Philip -Beryl's daughter.
28/12/2008	Waiau Motor Camp	$20.00	Well done on a great ride from Kaikoura
28/12/2008	Tessa and Noel	$30.00	Tena korua i Aorere on a roasting 28 deg. afternoon. Looking forward to once again welcoming you home. Kia Kaha John
22/12/2008	Harry & Yvonne Ruffell	$20.00	Good on you John. Keep it up. Harry & Yvonne
18/12/2008	Ian and Lynne	$25.00	Hi John and Lorraine. Congrats on the first half of the journey -you have done well, so we thought we should tip you over the $4k mark Best wishes for the next 14,000km Ian and Lynne
18/12/2008	Leon and Ennis	$30.00	Hi John Talking to Ian Lyttle and heard of your ride and thought I would like to support you. I am over from Germany visiting my mother who is a neighbour of Ian and Lynnes. COngratulations on what you have achieved so far and best wishes for the remainder of the journey
16/12/2008	Mervyn & Alison Jones - Peggydale, Balclutha	$10.00	Best wishes for the rest of your journey.
12/12/2008	Thurrock Spectrum Brass	$120.00
07/12/2008	Ashley Gorge Holiday Park	$90.00	Thanks for staying here. We hope you are successful in your mission.
05/12/2008	Mervyn	$100.00	Good Luck John, all your less fit relatives are happily sitting on our couches feeling impressed that someone is doing something worthwhile.
03/12/2008	Waiwera Sleepers	$30.00	Well done. Your ride is for a great cause. Keep up the good work.
03/12/2008	Waiau Motor Camp	$20.00	Welcome to Waiau. Great going chaps, especially from Kaikoura on the Inland route.
29/11/2008	NEPTUNE	$100.00	Hi fellow snorer! I always thought you were mad, now we all have proof. Lorraine must have done some smooth talking to get you to agree to this venture. Well now you are on the your way I wish you well and to quote that well known Chinese saying: " May your bum and saddle never be seperated by seeping blisters!" Go John go, do it for us oldies. Best regards Christine, Ray, Iain, Babette, Helen and the rest of Clan DAVIES in the UK.
27/11/2008	Susan and Barry	$100.00	Our thoughts are along the same line as Sam's! May the wind always be at your back and the road NEVER rise to meet you (except on your terms) and your two feet always first to touch the ground. Welcome to NZ Rod and Kath, this is one way to see the country, not the most comfortable way but I hope you witness the true NZ spirit on the journey.As Dad would say "Pip pip happy landings"and as Mum would say "Well I never, just corker" See you in Balclutha.Keep taking those photos Lorraine.Have a great ride.
26/11/2008	Philippa Sowman	$50.00	All the best for a great ride Uncle John. Take care and will look forward to catching up with you when you get to Christchurch!
24/11/2008	Pete & Kay	$200.00	Go you good things!The cook has proven she can still make the world's best lemon meringue pie so there'll be one waiting here for your arrival plus a Speights or two! Maybe some banana passion fruit as well. Travel well. Kia kaha. God bless.
24/11/2008	Ian and Lynne Lyttle	$50.00	Good luck John - you are doing a great ride. "May the wind be always at your back"
23/11/2008	Sam Arcus	$100.00	Good luck uncle John hope all is well and i hope that your bum doesn't get too saw
23/11/2008	Stuart Nicholson	$500.00	Go cussie! Bikes always were central in your family of origin. You dad was my hero as a young lad - he could totally pull a bike apart and reassemble it! I think he was into packing more grease in because of the salty Collingwood environment. He would be proud of you :-) ... and then there's your expedition to Picton from Spring Creek to visit Pop! God speed for your journey! I have been a supporter of Life Flight Trust for a while because I get out in to the back blocks too, and want them to be around if I need them!
23/11/2008	Edward Andrews	$10.00
19/11/2008	doc	$50.00
19/11/2008	Rosena & Ron	$75.00	Have fun !!
18/11/2008	Lou Scott and Gary Peacock	$50.00	May you be puncture free!
16/11/2008	Charlie & Doreen McKay	$40.00	Nice one John. We’ll put down a special brew for your return to Collingwood.
15/11/2008	Jimu Grimmett & Christine Weir	$20.00	What a great story, enjoy the ride. May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back.
15/11/2008	Margaret McKay	$20.00	All the best for The Big Pedal
12/11/2008	Margaret Price	$20.00	Good luck John. I hope the weather is kind to you.
12/11/2008	Bert Tjaden	$20.00	Good luck John. I hope you are still singing Bass and not Tenor when you return!
12/11/2008	John Botting	$25.00	Hi John,A great w'end in Kaikoura with the South men and not so good hearing of your heavy cold just before expedition starts. All the very best, go well and maybe we'll see you on the road in Timaru or at Nosh as you go passed the Waimate turn off. Cheers ! John Botting
12/11/2008	Craig, Natalie, Hollie and Lola	$267.00	Good Luck Pok!
10/11/2008	John and Shirley Kember	$50.00	Be nice to the road gangs
09/11/2008	Twin 14 July	$100.00	We will be waiting for you to come through TIMARU. Keep us posted
08/11/2008	Barbara & Roger Hadfield	$200.00
05/11/2008	Gavin Fitchett	$50.00	Good Luck. I hope you have a soft saddle!
05/11/2008	Tony and Darrel Arcus	$100.00	John, best wishes for your latest challenge
04/11/2008	Mac and Mary McCormick	$100.00	You are amazing - go John
04/11/2008	Stu Masters	$200.00
04/11/2008	Max Graesser	$100.00	Good luck with the ride.
03/11/2008	Clare Hollingworth	$100.00	Have a fantastic trip John
01/11/2008	Ian Lawrence Ford	$100.00	Go John Go!!!
01/11/2008	Steve Gush	$100.00	Good on ya John have fun on the ride
31/10/2008	Hot Rod!! The mad pedaller	$100.00
29/10/2008	Ageing Bull	$400.00	Life is a journey and The Big Pedal a part of it. Happy Daze. Ride on "Imagine it...."