Rudy Pospisil, a fire department captain from Vancouver and a cancer survivor has set himself a challenge – to cycle around the world, raising money for cancer research. His journey brings him to New Zealand in late November where he will cycle the length of the country to raise funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC).
His ride “Thirty Countries for Three Cancers” is in memory of the 343 firefighters that perished in 9/11. Rudy has already crossed 15 countries covering over 20,000km on his bicycle and raised over $30,000. He has leveraged local firefighting communities to help reach his fundraising goals with the money raised in each country going towards a charity within the country.
Rudy will team up with fire brigades across the country who participate in Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand’s annual Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge to join forces and raise money for LBC.
Rudy was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and was determined not only to beat it but to dedicate the rest of his life to raise money and awareness for cancer research. What started in 2009 as a cycle from his home in Vancouver, Canada down the pacific coast of the USA has turned into a world-wide circumnavigation covering three quarters of the globe.
Rudy’s New Zealand itinerary will see him traverse the country starting at the Bluff lighthouse on the 26th of November finishing at the Cape Reinga lighthouse on the 22nd December. Along the way he will be stopping at selected fire stations to hold public talks about his motivation behind cycling across the world to combat cancer and the things he has experienced on his journeys.
The journey through New Zealand will also see Rudy tackle cycling up Baldwin Street– the world steepest street, on November 30 with the hopes of making it an annual charity event for New Zealand cyclists.
Public talks about his journey are open to anyone for a gold coin donation in the following regions (each link opens a Facebook event where you can indicate attendance):
Rudy will also be in the following towns on these dates:
For more information about Rudy and to get in contact with him, head to www.firefightercycle.com