Project has cool way of fundraising

Rob Cope says his hitch-hiking companion is about as emotionally intelligent as most Kiwi males. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rob Cope has passed through Rotorua for a second time with his fridge.

Mr Cope stopped in Rotorua this week as part of his second nationwide hitchhike with a fridge, this time to fundraise $24,000 for his latest endeavour, Project WildMan, which is aimed at getting males to confront their issues and become better people.

"Last year was to promote the book and this year is to fundraise for Project WildMan. So many guys go through stuff but none of them will talk.

"Marriage break ups or lost jobs, Project WildMan gets guys in the natural situation of sitting around a fire and they can talk. It's never been a part of New Zealand culture to talk about emotions," he said.

"It is not new-agey or weird and there is no religious affiliation."

He said the bottling up of emotions was a factor in high suicide and alcoholism rates among Kiwi males.

Mr Cope will make his way up to Cape Reinga over the next four days, and has raised $2000 so far.

"I have four days to raise the remaining $22,000," he said.

Mr Cope began his journey in his hometown of Wellington, and has covered the West Coast of the South Island, to Bluff, and will move up to Cape Reinga before he finished in Wellington, he said.

He was looking to set up a Project WildMan group in Rotorua.

"I want to set up a WildMan group in Rotorua, I want there to be spaces for guys to talk all over New Zealand," he said.

And the fridge?

"The fridge is just a ridiculous idea, but I have found a deeper meaning. I have taken the fridge everywhere with me, and even taken him paddle boarding, but if I was to ask him about the real stuff that was going on he would be about as helpful as a normal Kiwi bloke," he said.

-Visit www.projectwildman.co.nz for more information.