Photo: Supplied
Photo: Sharyn Smart
Stratford paralympian cyclist Nathan Smith is part of the New Zealand team competing in the ANZA Challenge later this month.
Mr Smith has focused on his career after last year’s London Paralympics, working fulltime as charge pharmacist at McKay Pharmacy in Stratford.
“When they asked me to do it (the ANZA Challenge) I said it will give me a reason to get back on my bike and train for something. I was dead keen,” Mr Smith said.
The charitable event will pit two celebrity teams, representing New Zealand and Australia, against each other as they compete for national pride and raise money for their nominated charities.
Mr Christiansen, New Plymouth spokesperson for Harcourts, said it was a great honour to be principal sponsors of the ANZA Challenge.
The New Zealand race of the ANZA Challenge will begin in Wellington on October 15 and move through Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Hamilton, with their charity being the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.
“Halberg is an amazing organisation for New Zealand sport. If I can support it any way then I will give up my time and holidays to support these programmes,” Mr Smith said.
Halberg disability sports advisor John Sigurdsson is joining the team for the final 10 kilometre public even representing Taranaki.
“This is the first year this event has taken place and I’m excited to be involved. To be able to give something back to Halberg and the disabled kids in Taranaki is a great feeling,” he said.
The teams will cycle, row, sail and run, 1,300km around their respective countries over six days with Mr Smith joining the two-day cycle leg from Nelson to Dunedin.
“The goal’s obviously to beat Australia by riding as hard as I can for New Zealand,” he said.
The race will finish on October 20 with two simultaneous 10km races in Auckland and Sydney.
Celebrities will be joined by members of the public with the country gaining the fastest collective time taking out the win and national honours.
Harcourts are sponsoring a charity quiz night to be held at 7pm on Friday October 18, at the Paritutu Bowling Club, New Plymouth.
The cost is $10 per member with proceeds going to Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.
To register your team of six phone 759 9160
This article was published in the North Taranaki Midweek on Wednesday, October 16, 2013