A mighty mountain bike challenge has resulted in an $8000 donation to St John in Thames.
Barry Ingle and Jake Tyrrell-Baxter joined the Coromandel’s More FM Mount Everest Challenge 2021 in a bid to raise funds towards a new ambulance in the Hauraki-Coromandel District.
The Thames pair climbed 8848 metres on their mountain bikes in the fundraiser, which is the height of Mount Everest. The challenge took place over a two-month period from March 8.
Both Barry and Jake are employees of A&G Price in Thames, and when general manager Peter Yates heard about their efforts, he was also keen for Thames company to support St John and the community.
A St John Thames spokesperson said the organisation wanted to acknowledge the very generous donation.
“St John would also like to thank those who donated to Barry and Jake’s Givealittle page and to Coromandel’s More FM for choosing St John as this year’s recipient of the challenge.”
In the year to June, 2020, St John’s emergency ambulance services in Thames responded to 2948 incidents in the Thames area alone.
Of those responses, about 75 per cent were supported by St John volunteers.
“Generous donations including those from A&G Price Ltd, enables the organisation to continue to be there for those in the community in their time of need.”
