William will do the same ride to raise money for people like his grandfather Roy Pemberton , who was diagnosed with dementia earlier this year.
The year 13 Cashmere High School student will be joined by his friend and fellow student Holly Ffowcs Williams on the South Island leg of the ride.
They have started a Givealittle page which aims to raise $10,000 for Alzheimer’s New Zealand. They are calling themselves Team Wolly.
Said William: “Since he [Mr Pemberton] got diagnosed with dementia this year, I thought I just wanted to help support him and what our family’s going through because it’s quite a tough time.
"So I just wanted to give back to him by raising funds for Alzheimers New Zealand.”
Holly will meet William on January 8 in Picton and they will ride to the finish line together.
Holly said she was inspired to join William after seeing the effects of Alzheimers and dementia in her role as a volunteer.
“In the past few years, I’ve been a volunteer at a Nurse Maude hospice shop in Christchurch and we get a lot of customers who are from lots of different retirement villages across Christchurch," she said.
"And a few have come in with family members that have had dementia and Alzheimers, so it’s just been really heartbreaking to see.
“I think putting my love of cycling towards something like this is the way I can [help].”
Holly said the ride will be hard work but the cause will make it worth it.
“The most I've done in one day has been about 112km and some days we’re doing at least 100km with a good, radical climb," she said.
"So it’s going to be really mentally challenging but I think you’ve got to remember why you’re doing it.”
William said his grandfather and grandmother Hilda Pemberton appreciate what he is setting out to do.
“My granny’s very proud of me obviously trying to help support him [Mr Pemberton] as much as possible," William said.
"My grandad’s just pretty happy that I’m riding a road bike instead of a mountain bike. He’s always trying to convert me to road bikes so he’s quite stoked that I’m doing it on a road bike for him.”
William said the trip would not be possible without support from his mum and dad, Kim and Jon Hickford, who have helped organise the ride.
