An absolute highlight of this bike ride was our involvement with the New Zealand Zonta Organisation - "District 16" as they are known within the Zonta International movement.
Formed in 1919, Zonta International has over 30,000 members and is active in 64 countries of the world. Learn more about the worldwide activities of Zonta International by clicking on their logo above.
Members of Zonta Clubs support women and girls in their local communities, run projects in many parts of the world that address some of the most pressing needs facing women, and advocate on women issues at all levels of society. Zonta International has a long and well respected history of partnership in conjunction with the United Nations agencies, and maintains consultative status on women issues with the UN, and Council of Europe.
In New Zealand, Zonta has been active for more than 45 years, and has 28 clubs from Northland, to Otago. We combine service and advocacy, with fun and fellowship. Click on the District 16 logo above to get more information on the New Zealand activities of Zonta
I would urge anyone wishing to be involved in valuable projects that contribute to the advancement of women throughout the world to make contact with a Zonta branch near you. I am sure you will find it an enjoyable and worthwhile experience!
Formed in 1919, Zonta International has over 30,000 members and is active in 64 countries of the world. Learn more about the worldwide activities of Zonta International by clicking on their logo above.
Members of Zonta Clubs support women and girls in their local communities, run projects in many parts of the world that address some of the most pressing needs facing women, and advocate on women issues at all levels of society. Zonta International has a long and well respected history of partnership in conjunction with the United Nations agencies, and maintains consultative status on women issues with the UN, and Council of Europe.
In New Zealand, Zonta has been active for more than 45 years, and has 28 clubs from Northland, to Otago. We combine service and advocacy, with fun and fellowship. Click on the District 16 logo above to get more information on the New Zealand activities of Zonta
I would urge anyone wishing to be involved in valuable projects that contribute to the advancement of women throughout the world to make contact with a Zonta branch near you. I am sure you will find it an enjoyable and worthwhile experience!
major project for Zonta District 16 clubs at the time of our ride through New Zealand was to raise funds for the New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Foundation - we were pleased to use our ride to help this initiative.
In support of our efforts and to help us raise funds for the NZGCF, various Zonta Clubs along our route gave us assistance in ways we could never have imagined!!
We were quite overwhelmed with this support to say the least. The way these women rallied along the way had to be seen to be believed, and at many times, under rather testing weather conditions - they still showed up!! Saying "thanks" really doesn't seem enough and I can only hope they do realise just how much we appreciated their efforts.
Supportive messages of encouragement on our Facebook page throughout the journey
Gift baskets of fruit and tasty New Zealand products
Beautiful meals - morning teas, lunches, dinners
Home baking to take with us on our way - sooooooooo good (see recipes below)
There were occasions when Clubs had made contact with us, but for varying reasons (usually pretty adverse weather conditions that meant we were getting behind schedule, or various press commitments) we failed to meet up. I do apologize for that and I regretted these times.
I know it is always dangerous to single out people to thank - when so many Zontians contributed to this success, but I do have to give special thanks to my sister - Shona Roberts from Zonta Whangarei who really drove this, and her fellow Whangarei Zontian Irene McPherson - unbelievable support ladies - before, during and after this tough journey!!
In support of our efforts and to help us raise funds for the NZGCF, various Zonta Clubs along our route gave us assistance in ways we could never have imagined!!
We were quite overwhelmed with this support to say the least. The way these women rallied along the way had to be seen to be believed, and at many times, under rather testing weather conditions - they still showed up!! Saying "thanks" really doesn't seem enough and I can only hope they do realise just how much we appreciated their efforts.
Supportive messages of encouragement on our Facebook page throughout the journey
Gift baskets of fruit and tasty New Zealand products
Beautiful meals - morning teas, lunches, dinners
Home baking to take with us on our way - sooooooooo good (see recipes below)
There were occasions when Clubs had made contact with us, but for varying reasons (usually pretty adverse weather conditions that meant we were getting behind schedule, or various press commitments) we failed to meet up. I do apologize for that and I regretted these times.
I know it is always dangerous to single out people to thank - when so many Zontians contributed to this success, but I do have to give special thanks to my sister - Shona Roberts from Zonta Whangarei who really drove this, and her fellow Whangarei Zontian Irene McPherson - unbelievable support ladies - before, during and after this tough journey!!