An IHC volunteer decided to bike the length of New Zealand to raise funds for the charity, while meeting his virtual friends in person on the way.
Taranaki man Jonathan Abplanalp has been a volunteer for the organisation, which advocates for the rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, for about three years.
He is part of an i-Volunteer friendship programme, where individuals develop an online friendship with a person with an intellectual disability, providing support and companionship to them.
"Most weeks we do like a Zoom call and then we just talk to one another, play games, discuss things — just build a connection with one another."
During his bike ride, which started on October 29 and finished yesterday in Bluff, he met Hamish from Wellington who had been his friend since the beginning, as well as some other IHC members dotted about the country.
"It was definitely pretty cool to see him finally in person. I think, to be honest, if we lived in the same town I would definitely prefer that.
"Just face-to-face is, I think, a lot better."
Mr Abplanalp also visited other IHC members on his travels.
He said he had always wanted to complete the journey, and fundraising for the charity gave him the perfect reason to do so and helped to motivate him while travelling through the beautiful scenery of New Zealand.
"It is something to give back to the community and just help people that don’t have an easy life."
He was warmly welcomed by Invercargill’s IHC volunteers and members before his flight home yesterday.
"It’s really nice to have a welcome like this and knowing that there’s people around the country supporting me on the bike."
