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AOTEAROA CHALLENGE

An Epic Solo Adventure by Paul Percy

To climb NZ’s Highest Mountain and Swim NZ’s Longest River

We were approached by Paul Percy who is a New Zealander based in Melbourne in October 2002 to see if Arancia could provide a support boat for this challenge. Paul Percy, a diabetic, was given two years to live. He was spurred into changing his life style and being an ex surf life saver he took to swimming and intensive training and long distance swimming.

Paul’s goals were

1. To complete the challenge of the Climb and Swim and set the record as the first successful swim of the Waikato River.

2. Raise awareness of:

Ø The environment of the Waikato River

Ø Water safety on rivers and lakes of the Waikato

Ø Diabetes in our Society.

3. To raise funds for:

Ø Diabetes-Waikato-South Waikato-Taupo

Ø Sunset Surf Life Saving Club

Ø Beach Care – Port Waikato

Paul proposed climbing Mount Cook commencing on 12 December and then swimming the length of the Waikato River starting on 29 December and finishing on 18 January 2003. We were extremely impressed and agreed to lend him the Arancia Demonstrator boat.

We went down to Port Waikato and watched the last of his swim down to where the river met the sea. When he landed at the wharf a Maori welcome party greeted him. On his swim down the Waikato each day he would go to a Marai and talk about his experience in life and encourage people to exercise and eat correctly.

We had a long session with his crew who were both surf club members in Melbourne and had given their time to assist him. They, together with Paul, were extremely impressed with the boat and it can only help our cause in Australia. We also had the pleasure of meeting Paul’s wife who was effusive in her thanks for our help. A truly worthwhile cause with which Arancia was extremely proud to be associated.

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