Episode Details

A hospice team can change the shape of grief. James joins us to talk about Lake Taupō Hospice and the care they gave his mum, the kind of care that shows up quietly but leaves a lifelong mark. After she passed away on 28 November, he lost his mojo for a while, then realised he needed to do something meaningful that could honour her and help other families facing terminal illness in New Zealand.

So he’s setting himself a bold, measurable target: ride the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge, a 160km loop that’s tough on a good day, and raise $10,000 for hospice fundraising along the way. There’s a twist that gives the story real weight: the event lands on the same date as his mum’s passing, turning race day into an anniversary ride filled with purpose. We talk about what it’s like to ask people for donations, how to build a fundraising page that friends actually share, and why community support matters just as much as training volume.

James also opens up about the added hurdle of long COVID and what “getting fit again” really looks like when your energy isn’t a given. That means earlier nights, cutting alcohol, easing off strong espresso, watching the sugar, and finding motivation in small wins while he chases his best ever time around the lake. If you care about cycling, charity rides, or the unseen work of hospice care, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone who’d back a good cause, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

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