Taking on the Coast to Coast for Oxfam

Having witnessed the comraderie of both competitors and support crews last year, veterinarian Margaret Leyland took the first - and comparably easy - step of filling out an application form to compete in 2012's Speights Coast to Coast.

A gruelling 243km multi-sport event, the Coast to Coast is the world’s premier multi-sport event. Held over either one or two days, competitors take in the magnificent scenery of the Southern Alps as they cycle 140kms, run 36kms and kayak 67kms of the Waimakariri River through the Waimakariri Gorge.

Fundraising for the children of Papua New Guinea

Over the past months Margaret has been training hard and has also been raising money for Oxfam, the charity that works with the world's poorest communities and helps them find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. The $3,500 Margaret is hoping to raise will provide two school toilet blocks in Papua New Guinea, protecting village children from deadly diseases and ensuring water sources remain clean.  She's nearly halfway there, and would love any support her fellow NZVA members can give.

You can support Margaret by visiting her fundraising page here.

With the race just under two weeks away (it's on 10-11 February), Margaret's getting understandably nervous. But she's determined that despite the blood, sweat and tears that will likely fall during the race, she'll make it to the finish line, and looks forward to cracking the cold can of Speights that awaits her at the end.

We wish you all the best Margaret!

So how'd she go? - update 17 February

Weather conditions over the weekend were ideal, and everything came together on the day. Margaret's hard work and training paid off; she achieved a great result of 5th in the individual women's two-day event. Congratulations on a fabulous result!

Margaret gives special thanks to her awesome support crew - her partner Craig Dickson (another NZVA member), as well as all those who have made such generous donations to Oxfam.