Last Friday, Brendon "Maysie" May set up a stationary pedal bike on Timaru’s Strathallan Corner and pedalled for eight hours straight as a way to support his dad "Blue" May, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
In total, he raised $15,401 for Alzheimer's South Canterbury which, thanks to the dollar-for-dollar matching campaign with the St Vianney’s Timaru Trust, will be doubled.
He said he was ecstatic to have raised that amount after initially setting a $10,000 goal.
"It's pretty humbling, I didn't think we'd get that much.
He said the power of Voltaren got him through the eight hours.
"It was in the fourth hour that I got some cramp in my calf and then I put a bandage on and my wife rubbed some Voltaren gel or whatever it was into it.
"I was starting to worry, but that gel was actually unbelievable — but the last two hours were pretty painful.
"It was a relief to stand up but then when I went to sit back down it was like, ‘ah, my ass’.
"I was a bit stiff Saturday and Sunday."
All the support he received on the day was actually the biggest help, he said.
"The support from the people and having people beside you on the bikes was gold.
"That made the time go quicker, just talking and encouraging each other.
"Mum and Dad joined me which was awesome, I don't think he'd been on a bike since he was 12."
He said it was quite emotional as the final minutes approached.
"Dad had tears in his eyes and that almost set me off too.
"At about three minutes to go, I almost thought I was going to start crying.
"I don't know whether that was fatigue or just the emotion of the day."
Alzheimer's South Canterbury service manager Rosie Chambers said she was overwhelmed by the support the fundraiser received.
"It was heartwarming to see that people saw this as a cause that was worthy of giving to and that it is really close to a lot of people's hearts, especially in a climate where times are really tough financially for people.
"It was just amazing to see people coming along on the day and supporting, but also people donating in the background as well."
She said it was great to have had people with dementia come along and support "Maysie".
"It made them realise that this was for them and that their lives do matter."
The money raised would go a long way, she said.
"It all helps and that's what I was saying to people when they were donating.
"Some people would almost apologise for giving small amounts and we'd just say, ‘look it all helps, it all adds up’.
"We're going to put it in our Alzheimer's South Canterbury Community Fund, it's going to be put aside for people to follow in our footsteps and all those families that are yet to come into the service.
"It'll provide that bit of financial security for the organisation but also for families knowing that what we're doing now is actually to make sure that we're still here when they need us."
She was very thankful to "Maysie" and the community for all their support.
"I'm just so grateful to our community and no amount of thank you will ever seem enough.
"I think what people don't understand is the impact that dollar or $10 or $50 that they've given will make on the community longer term and how many families that will impact."
Mr May said he was so thankful for everyone who stopped by to pedal, donate or just say hello.
"At the rugby on Saturday, I must have shaken a hundred hands.
"People were coming up saying what a great thing to do for Alzheimer's and well done, I was getting cuddles from some of the biggest, ugliest guys you've ever met.
"It just shows you what a great community we've got here locally, we care about each other and look out for each other."
He was not proud of the personal feat but what the feat achieved.
"I heard my wife saying to someone, that I'm pretty stubborn, and once I set my mind to doing anything, it's like a lot of people, you've just got to do it.
"It was never an option not to, as far as doing eight hours, I was not proud.
"I'm just proud of the fact we've raised that much money and awareness.
"That's the most important goal, and what was most important for me."
The donation page on the Aoraki Foundation website is still open for anyone wanting to support the effort.
