Tessa Hunt memorial charity cycle ride

The legacy lives on

Tessa Hunt’s dream to traverse as many countries as possible by bicycle with her husband Dave was first realised when they cycled the length of Britain in 2000– the famous Lands End to John O’ Groats ride of 1600km.  In the process Tessa and Dave raised money for two UK schools.

In March 2007 the couple decided to negotiate the length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff.  During the first leg of the race, a distance of 700km to Turangi, Tessa became ill.  Shortly after, Tessa was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

That December, after 6 months of extensive chemotherapy, Tessa emerged from hospital in remission.  The cycling dream returned.

Tessa and Dave continued to train, and reached Wellington, with the goal of completing the South Island by the close of 2008 whilst supporting a new cause – leukaemia.  However, the abnormalities in Tessa’s blood returned and she passed away shortly after a 90km cycle to Wellington during Easter 2008.

Dave Hunt pledged to finish the South Island in memory of Tessa, and in December 2008 that pledge was fulfilled.  Dave and a group of 8 mutual friends, accompanied by a support crew, completed the final leg of Tessa’s journey.

An amazing $29,000 was raised for leukaemia research through truly generous support from family, friends, colleagues and the community – a feat Tessa would be proud of.

For a more information about the event, go to www.teamtessa.com.