Bay Harbour: October 27, 2021

Wednesday October 27 2021 Bay Harbour News
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NEWS 3
$35k for Renee and ‘the backside is OK’
• By Chris Barclay
NUK KORAKO has safely
completed his 720km cycling
odyssey from Banks Peninsula to
Bluff, so one day Renee Veal will
be on the road to recovery.
The former National list MP
for Port Hills reached Stirling
Point from Invercargill on
October 18, the final leg of a
journey undertaken to spearhead
a $90,000 fundraising drive for
26-year-old Veal, who needs a
jaw reconstruction.
Veal, who grew
up in the small
community
of Rapaki, is
living with
hypermobile
Ehlers-Danlos
Renee Veal
Syndrome, which
means her jaw
often dislocates.
Struggling to sleep or eat
properly for a decade due to
persistent pain, Veal needs lifeenhanching
surgery which is
not covered by the public health
system.
The replacement jaw and joints
are titanium and manufactured
in the United States.
Her plight prompted Korako
to cycle to Bluff, a minor
discomfort in comparison, as
Karako raised $35,000.
“The legs are good and the
backside is okay,” said the proud
Gold Card holder, who started
heading south on an e-bike on
October 9.
The route took him from
Christchurch to Ashburton,
Tekapo, Tarras, Cromwell,
Queenstown, Lumsden and
Invercargill before the finish line.
He aimed to cover 85km a day.
“The hardest part was
Geraldine through Burkes Pass
to Tekapo because most of the
time it was head winds,” said
Korako, who activated battery
power on the steep stretches.
“It had to be a challenge for
me as well so on the flat you’re at
zero power. I only went to level
two when I was on the hills.”
SUCCESS: Nuk Korako reached Bluff after cycling from
Christchurch to raise money for Renee Veal who is living with
hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
Swooping magpies, heavy
traffic and a puncture were the
other obstacles for the politician
who served from 2014-19.
Korako drove back to
Christchurch with wife and
support crew Christine on
Wednesday to catch up with
Veal after updating her by
phone.
“Renee is over the moon. The
support from people who didn’t
even know us or Renee was
fantastic.
“We’re a third of the way
there (to the target), at least
we’ve created some momentum.”
More fundraising initiatives
are in the pipeline.
Tracey McLellan
MP for Banks Peninsula
I’m here to help. Please contact my
office if you require any assistance.
03 376 4512
Tracey.McLellanMP@parliament.govt.nz
PO BOX 19 661, Woolston, Christchurch 8241
642 Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch
Authorised by Tracey McLellan MP,
642 Ferry Road, Woolston
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