Jacque Webber is raising money to be able to compete as part of the first Maori triathlon team in next year's Ironman Copenhagen. Photo / Stephen Park
Jacque Webber is raising money to be able to compete as part of the first Maori triathlon team in next year's Ironman Copenhagen. Photo / Stephen Park
Mother of four likes a challenge
Jacque Webber has conquered the Iron Maori, Taupo Ironman and now her sights are set on competing overseas.
The married mother-of-four has always been active and involved in various sports but her passion is now with the ultra triathlon event.
"I'm a tutu type of person, I'm always doing something,I think I would get bored if I wasn't doing anything," Mrs Webber (Ngati Rangiaorere, Ngati Pikiao) said.
She competed in her first Iron Maori in the Hawke's Bay in 2011 and has taken part each year since. This year she competed in the Taupo Ironman for the first time and has been invited to be part of the first Maori triathlon team to compete in the Ironman Copenhagen in August next year.
"When I completed the Ironman it was a feeling that's quite hard to describe. It was such a 'wow' feeling and something I wanted everyone else to experience. Anyone can do it. I loved it and wasn't going for time," Mrs Webber said.
"What I love about it is the atmosphere. There was a time where I couldn't even swim. I used to only do backstroke.
"I had always wanted to do Ironman and last year in May I made it my goal. I watched YouTube videos and started going to the pool every day to learn how to swim.
"I started trying to do the 25m getting to the end without stopping and then 50m and by the end of the week I did a 1km and the following week, 2km."
She was asked to be part of the team alongside four others by Tauranga resident Des Harris.
"I was quite stoked to be invited to go. The guy who came up with the idea, Des, did the Swedish Ironman and he said he was the only Maori there and felt a bit like a fish out of water.
"I'm very excited to be part of this awesome journey alongside four other fantastic Maori triathletes."
TARGET: The Ironman Copenhagen. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Mrs Webber needs to raise $5000 to $8000 which will pay for airfares and accommodation. She said her family had been "awesome" with their support and coming up with the fundraiser idea of a secondhand sporting goods sale.
"I wanted to come up with something different, hangi packs have already been done and there is a lot of time put into doing that. I've never known of a sports fundraiser before in Rotorua and lot of people here are sports minded.
"It's pretty much going to be like how they have the baby [clothes and equipment] sale but solely sports equipment."
Mrs Webber and her whanau are asking for any unwanted good quality sports gear people would like to donate to the fundraiser which will be held on Saturday, October 18 at Rotorua Intermediate School on Malfroy Rd. A gold coin entry is required.
For a small fee there are limited allocations of stalls for people who want to set up their own stalls to sell their goods.
• To donate sporting goods contact Jacque Webber for details or pick up of goods on 027 714 3333. A Givealittle donation page has also been set up, www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/IronKiwi.
