HOOKED ON FUNDRAISING

Alone and struggling to keep his spirits up on a gruelling cycle tour, Will Pickering turned to charity fundraising.

Will Pickering, a New Zealander living in London, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2017. The following year, he embarked on a 700-kilometre solo cycling tour around Hardanger Fjord in Norway. He’d always been fascinated by Norway’s landscape, plus he wanted to prove to himself that he could meet the challenges of a solo expedition.

There was nothing easy about the route or the conditions, and by the sixth day, Will says, “The pounding daily elevation on the legs and the relentless rain forced me into a lonely bus stop.” That was when the idea came to him to start a fundraising page on JustGiving for Diabetes UK. He took out his phone, set up the page, and wrote:

I’ve clocked up 400+ kms on the bike so far including an off-road mountain pass and Troltunga 8-hour climb. But I’m exhausted and I need your love and support to keep me going.

I want to get to my goal of 700km so please give a little or a lot to get me that extra push as well as help me give back to a charity that has helped me and many others suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Then he got back onto his bike. Who’d see it or whether he’d even get a response at all, he didn’t know.

Will arrived at his destination for the night – a remote log cabin near a ferry crossing – and logged on. “I was stunned to see the amount of support from friends around the world.” It was all the encouragement he needed:

“Kindness and generosity is a great motivator.”

He completed his journey after 12 days, raising £1,484. Will says he had always had the desire to give back, and after that experience he was hooked on adventure-challenge fundraising.

THE START OF THE STORY

Will’s diabetes story began when he was working as a graphic designer in London. He’d come back to Wellington, New Zealand, for his twin brother’s wedding, and he noticed he was thirsty and needing to go to the toilet often. He thought this was odd.

On his way back to London, Will stopped off in Australia to visit friends. By this point, “The thirst had become extreme. I was downing one-litre bottles of whatever liquid I could get my hands on, and yet my thirst was never fulfilled. I also began losing weight.”

He went online and found that these were common symptoms of diabetes. He told his friends that’s what he thought he had, but – with little knowledge about the condition – they reassured him that he wouldn’t have it as he was healthy and fit.

Will says, “I should have gone to a doctor as soon as I noticed the symptoms, but, foolishly, I waited another few days until I was back in London. There, I suffered major bouts of exhaustion and decided I had to go to hospital immediately.”

Unfortunately, Will arrived during a crisis. In an event that made global headlines – the WannaCry ransomware attack – anonymous hackers had targeted thousands of computers across 150 countries, demanding a ransom before they would restore normal functions. Britain’s National Health Service was one of the largest organisations hit, with computers, MRI scanners, storage refrigerators, and theatre equipment affected.

Will says A&E was packed with people as the hospital’s services began to grind to a halt. He waited in the crowd, feeling worse and worse, and eventually passed out. “The next thing I knew, I was in the ER with fluid tubes attached to my arms.” He felt energy coming back to his body but still had no idea what was going on. “The doctors were flat out. It wasn’t until three days later that I finally had a proper diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.”

There was no history of diabetes in his family, but when the doctor heard Will had an identical twin he urged Will to make contact with him to suggest he get tested as well. Will did so, and his twin brother followed up on the suggestion straight away. “Sure enough, they found evidence of the early stages of type 1. So now we are quite literally ‘blood brothers’.”

Will didn’t want the diagnosis to change what he could do. “Being active has always been part of my life, and I’ve tried my hand at as many sports as I could.

Football was my main sports obsession in my teens and early 20s – I represented the Central North Island and played for a number of senior clubs.” Now, “snowboarding is probably my favourite – nothing beats carving through fresh powder on a clear winter day. My dad’s also a keen cyclist, and he inspired me to get into tour-cycling. I enjoy multiday rides with bags of gear and a tent, exploring and absorbing new countries.”

Not long after Will’s diagnosis, he wanted to ride around the coastline of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, with friends. “My doctor said I couldn’t, but I was determined not to miss out. I educated myself on the illness and practised nutrition and blood sugar control, and thankfully won him over.”

It was after completing this trip successfully that Will set himself the challenge of the solo ride through Norway and ended up discovering how much he loved fundraising.

FUNDRAISING FOR DIABETES NZ

This year, due to Covid, Will is home in New Zealand, staying with family in Hawke’s Bay. He was wondering what to do for his next fundraising venture when “a good mate who wanted to do the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run convinced me to enter, too.” The annual challenge takes place along Fiordland National Park’s Kepler Track – 60 kilometres of uneven terrain.

Will says it’s lucky they signed up when they did. “This year’s event sold out in record time. We were both fortunate to get entries … So, no choice but to do it now!”

At the time of writing, Will was in his fifth month of training. “It began slowly with cycling and shorter runs, but now it’s in full swing with a good balance of longer distance, hills, and terrain running.” That’s included the Hatuma Half Marathon, where he came 13th, and the Cole Murray Cape Kidnappers 32km trail race. “I aim to practice good nutrition and blood sugar management, ready for the main event.”

Follow Will’s progress or donate to his campaign here: givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/willskeplerchallenge

Want to fundraise?

Will has advice for anyone who wants to fundraise. First, when it comes to choosing your event, “an adventure or challenge that would make you the happiest is the way to go. Set dreams. Be creative and think big.”

When you start your fundraising campaign: “Make a compelling story, and people will see your passion and dedication and want to support your journey.”

Will has had good experiences with fundraising websites like givealittle.co.nz. He says, “Make sure you share the link with friends and colleagues via social platforms. It’s also a good idea to contact local businesses that might relate to your challenge and may wish to sponsor you. Be proactive and willing to work with them.”