Pride of NZ: Cycling slog makes Wade toast of the club

Wade Green cycled from Tauranga to Upper Hutt in a gruelling three-day journey to help raise money for his local Tai Chi club. Photo / John Borren

Tai Chi practitioner Wade Green admits he was not feeling incredibly 'zen' trying to cycle up the Desert Rd, but he's chuffed his efforts to reach Wellington have earned him a nomination in this year's Pride of New Zealand awards.

The Tauranga man has been nominated by his Taoist Tai Chi Society peers after completing a solo three-day excursion to help raise money to pay for a Tai Chi instructor's learning trip to Canada.

Mr Green's March ride also tied in the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of New Zealand.

Mr Green said he had "done a fair bit of cycling events" and the trip to Upper Hutt, to attend a Tai Chi international workshop, made sense.

"I thought it might be a bit different to cycle down there, and it sort of escalated from there," Mr Green said.

Mr Green said he hoped the 521km ride would not only raise money for one of the society's instructor's to travel to Canada to visit Taoist Tai Chi headquarters but to also help raise awareness of the healing and wellness practice.

Mr Green said the first day's trip from Tauranga to Turangi went well, but day two's trek through the Desert Rd was especially gruelling, sparking thoughts of 'what have I gotten myself into'?

"That second morning, that was the real tough point. But once you got to the top of the Desert Rd it was pretty much downhill for the rest of the day, apart from the hill just before Taihape," he said.

Mr Green said he had not seen much of that part of the country before.

"In some ways it's good not knowing what's coming up. It's easier mentally, if you don't know something real tough is coming up."

Mr Green said the last leg of the trip was a shorter distance and far easier than the Turangi to Bulls journey.

"There's been talk about doing it again. Next time there'll probably be a few others."

Mr Green raised about $2000 but the club was still waiting on other donations to come in from other Tai Chi clubs throughout the country before tallying up a final figure.

The Taoist Tai Chi Society is a voluntary organisation.

Mr Green was nominated in the 'fundraising' category of the awards.

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Nominations for the 2015 awards have now closed.
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For more information on the awards go to the official website.