Charity rider needs support

From The Age today - http://tinyurl.com/d7ag5

Sungod' proves a handy cyclist
By Liz Minchin
January 11, 2006

FROM as young as 13, Andreas Dagelet used to terrify his mother by
vanishing during school holidays, to tramp and hitchhike his way across
the north island of his native New Zealand.

Now 38, not even a damaged spinal cord has been able to curb his taste
for adventure. If anything, he says, the accident that nearly killed him
and paralysed his lower body a decade ago has made his wanderlust
greater.

This week Mr Dagelet cruised into Melbourne on his recumbent tricycle
on his way to setting a world record for the longest hand-cranked
cycling trip.

Starting at his home near Brisbane last April, he has cycled more than
13,000 kilometres, at an average of 75 kilometres a day, five days a
week, riding anti-clockwise around Australia through Darwin, Perth and
Adelaide, as well as some of the country's most isolated rural
communities.

Along the way, he hopes to raise $1 million for children's charities,
with donations held in trust by his local council.

"I've got no idea how much we've raised so far, I'm leaving that to
the council to keep track of," said Mr Dagelet, who is an architect by
trade but whose weblog described him as an "Adventurer — Sungod".

"But if we raise $10,000 or $100,000 or $1 million, it's all good.
It's not really about the money or the world record — this trip is
really about having fun and showing people I meet along the way that
anything is possible."

Mr Dagelet started his journey on the 10th anniversary of becoming
paraplegic, when he climbed too high up a gum tree and fell seven
metres, breaking his back. After six months' rehabilitation, he was
itching for further adventures and has since gone bungy jumping, been
skydiving and visited 44 countries.

Before he can continue on to Tasmania and along Victoria's east coast
for the final 4000-kilometre stretch home, he has to find two new
volunteers to become his support crew, to drive the ute and caravan
that shield him from speeding traffic.

There have been a few near-misses — especially with impatient drivers
along the Great Ocean Road and near capital cities — but at least this
time he has his mother's blessing.

"One of the things I have to do when I finish this trip is repay all
the money I've borrowed from my mother and the bank, because I've blown
my life savings on this trip," he said. "And when I've done that, I
think I'll take another round-the-world trip, just to unwind."

To volunteer or donate, call 0412 228 966 or visit the link below.
-(Note sure where the link is)
-


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SuzieB

Okay, found the email and website.



http://www.handcycleoz.blogspot.com/

What an inspiration!


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SuzieB

SuzieB Wrote:
Okay, found the email and website.



http://www.handcycleoz.blogspot.com/

What an inspiration!


As a strange coincidence I saw a ute with this URL on it's back window
as I was coming into work at Werribee this morning and I wondered what
they were on about.

The roads were pretty wet and visibilty on the Geelong Rd wasn't good
so I hope everyone was being careful.

RoryW


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Rory Williams

http://www.handcycleoz.blogspot.com/

Good blog. I admire people who don't allow fate to keep kicking them.



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cfsmtb

cfsmtb wrote:
http://www.handcycleoz.blogspot.com/

Good blog. I admire people who don't allow fate to keep kicking them.

Interesting. I went to uni with Andreas, and kinda lost contact late
90's. Great to see he's doing well...from what I knew of him at uni
he's not the sort to allow fate to kick him. In fact more than one
person said at the time that it couldn't have happened to a better
person, meaning that of anyone who could a) cope and b) turn an injury
like this into something positive, then Andreas would be that person.

Cheers
David M