Daniel Lee accompanied by his father Richard and mother Margo gave a fascinating address with numerous photos of his challenge to walk the Te Aroroa trail, a continuous 3000km walking track from Cape Reinga to Bluff to raise funds for the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter. His goal was $10,000, but the walk actually raised $22,000.
At the end of the walk, he raised a further $8,500 for the children’s ward at the Hastings hospital by having his dreadlocks cut-off by children in the ward.
When Daniel was 6 years old growing up on a farm in Waipukurau he had a serious accident which required urgent medical attention. He credits the quick response of the rescue helicopter getting him to the Hastings hospital for his full recovery. Daniel had been looking for a way to show his gratitude and appreciation of the helicopter service for some years. When he heard of the Te Aroroa trail he made the decision to walk the trail and raise funds for the rescue helicopter.
Daniel started the walk at Cape Reinga on 7 November 2016 and finished at Bluff 152 days later and 10kgs lighter on 5 April 2017. Initially, his focus was on completing the walk but as time went on he slowed down to get the maximum enjoyment from the experience. Friends joined him for sections of the trail. He also met many people on the trail, mostly from overseas, and is still in touch with some of them.
His goal was $10,000, but the walk actually raised $22,000. At the end of the walk, he raised a further $8,500 for the children’s ward at the Hastings hospital by having his dreadlocks cut-off by children in the ward.
The experience has enabled him to decide on his career and despite having completed a farming degree he now intends to get into adventure tourism starting with the NMIT adventure tourism course at Nelson.
The experience has enabled him to decide on his career and despite having completed a farming degree he now intends to get into adventure tourism starting with the NMIT adventure tourism course at Nelson.