Sound to Sound 2024

NOT! Just another fundraiser…..We're biking for Ronald McDonald House!

Paddy & Rowan Aspros want to pay it forward and have found a unique and extreme way to help boost the coffers of Ronald McDonald House on the Sounds 2 Sounds, a multi-day mountain bike adventure race over a 1500km route from Ships Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound to Milford Sound in Fiordland.

The pair, also known as Papou and Yiayia (Greek for granddad and grandma which is a nod to Paddy’s Greek heritage), consider themselves active relaxers. Their CV is filled with playing rugby, touch, netball and basketball over a lifetime of sporting experience, but injuries and age prompted them to take up cycling. 

“Our first adventure was in 1995 riding the Otago Central Rail Trail before it was fully open and there was no accommodation.  Everyone we met thought we were mad, but look at that trail now so awesome”.  Since then the Aspros’ have competed in numerous mountain bike races over the years and ridden all the popular South Island multi day trails including the Heaphy, Old Ghost Rd, Alps to Ocean. 

“The Pioneer, a multi-day mountain bike adventure race was one of our favourites but, like so many things, Covid stopped that race in its tracks”.

But they decided the time was right to look for a new challenge. Paddy turns 60 in February 2024, and they celebrate their 40th (Ruby) wedding anniversary in January 2024. “What better way to celebrate those milestones than a 1500km bike ride.  And the big question is “Will we make the 41st wedding anniversary??”

Their moto is “use it or lose it”. “If you stop keeping active it’s always going to be tough to restart”. They like to encourage and offer a positive role model to their two grown children and their four grandkids all of whom are keen mountain bikers. 

Events like this take a lot of preparation and not just a matter of hopping off the couch and hitting the start line.  But they enjoy the training. Getting out into the back blocks, over to the Banks Peninsula or training down in North Otago is the thing that puts a smile on their faces.   “You meet some amazing people and see our amazing country on two wheels”.

Rowan has finally given in and traded up to an e-bike, but she’s not yet figured out how she will keep the battery charged.  “It may be a bit challenging”. However, even though Paddy has stuck with his normal bike, he seems to think he may be able to attach a tow rope to Rowan’s seat.

Rowan is a partner at Corcoran French lawyers in Christchurch, which also has an office in Greymouth, and the firm supports RMH by funding a room and various other initiatives. 

“And so, the other great thing for us about competing in the Sounds 2 Sounds is that we can also use the event to fundraise…this is an awesome way to support our community. You never know when a member of your family/whanau might need the RMH services”.