Herceptin Riders Peaceful Protest Ride

[maxworldbiker]

:yes:
CALLING ALL RIDERS... NORTH AND SOUTH!!!
Support the Herceptin Riders Peaceful Protest Ride


North Island - 6th – 12th March 2008FERRY DISCOUNTS HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR SOUTH ISLAND RIDERS WHO WANT TO BE PART OF THIS EVENT. IF YOU WANT TO BE THERE AND BE COUNTED...
PM ME FOR DETAILS AND CODES!

After a brilliant week away, we aim to deliver our message to the Government:
Her2+ breast cancer is killing too many of our women who have to find their own funding because the government won't help them. Some of them can't. So hundreds die every year, and their families are ripped apart.
This drug needs to be funded, to stop that from happening.

:psst:We need EVERYBODY'S help to make the government see sense! :psst:

Numbers at Parliament on the final day will really count. If you want to support Kiwi women with HER2+ breast cancer to get their treatment funded, and help us make a statement about the third-world state of New Zealand's cancer drug funding, take an extended lunch break, and come and join us outside parliament at midday on Wednesday 12th March for a couple of hours.

Parliament has granted us permission to park within the grounds, with a few provisos (detailed on the website), and the council will be blocking off the parking spaces in Molesworth Street for supporters to park their motorcycles outside the gates if we run out of room inside.
So come on down! You're allowed to bring your lunch. Bring any petition forms you can download and get filled out, and don't forget to dress up your bike. Think Pink!!!
Check out www.herceptinriders.co.nz
for details of how you can still get involved and support the aims of this event.
Maybe buy a Supporter's T-Shirt!!! The money goes to helping kiwi women stay alive.
We also fully welcome along anyone who wants to ride with us all, for part of the way, at any given point in the route, or meet up with us to hand in any completed petition forms you may have.

See the website for the route we're taking, and come and keep us company, or cheer us all on from wherever you can!

[forkoil]

Is it true that the bill for herceptin would amount to the bill for all other cancer drugs combined?

[smoky]

Is it true that the bill for herceptin would amount to the bill for all other cancer drugs combined?

Nowhere near it - but I bet it would've been less than the National Party had put aside to buy the general election.
Less than Work and Income spent on consultants over the last three years combined with what the Police paid to keep Rikards for three years, and then pay him off, combined with the cost of a Doc toilet at Rotoiti in the South Island.

It will increase the nation’s medicines bill by around $6 million a year. I think someone worked it out to less than a $2.30 per tax payer per year. I think that’s worth it – don’t you

[maxworldbiker]

Its certainly a lot less than the bill for the America's Cup advertising. And it would be swallowed within the "government surplus" without a blip on the landscape.

[crashe]

Maxworldbiker - this is for a great cause....... a applaud you on the work you are doing....

On the website provided I had a look around and I found that after checking out each individual link, I discovered on the 'what you need to know' and the 'Self Funding' links, you say that, each rider must come up with $950 for the ride itself... plus $50 registration (non refundable)

Well is that the same amount for everyone even if say someone starts off at Auckland only rather than going from Wellington up to Auckland back down there.......?

It does seem an huge amount of money for each rider to find.
Many may have their own accommodation at friends places etc....

I know that it wouldn't cost me $950 to travel from Auckland and stay in Wellington (including fuel costs).

Can you please explain it............ cheers.






Dec 2006 - Travelled: Ak - Palm North - Lower Hutt - Masterton - Hastings - Taupo - Auckland - Whangarparoa - Auckland = $85 petrol for my bike
Ok it will be a bit dearer for the bigger bikes.

[forkoil]

This has a feeling of hysteria about it, comparisons with Americas Cup etc are all irrelevant, noone has actually answered my question, which I definitely heard during the initial stages in the herceptin debate (ie,. that the bill for herceptin would about double the national cancer drug bill)

[smoky]

This has a feeling of hysteria about it,
can't see anyone getting hysterical myself


comparisons with Americas Cup etc are all irrelevant,
Why?
Seems relevant to me, shows where the priority lies - I bet if Sir Ed had died of breast cancer it would be funded quick as a flash, no problems.


noone has actually answered my question, which I definitely heard during the initial stages in the herceptin debate (ie,. that the bill for herceptin would about double the national cancer drug bill)

Thought I had;


Nowhere near it...........
It will increase the nation’s medicines bill by around $6 million a year.

I would think it is a bit hard to quantify the total bill for cancer drugs - due to the fact not all the pills taken for cancer are limited to treating cancer alone, and some of the drugs used for cancer are not generic.
But $6Mil a year is not much.

[maxworldbiker]

Maxworldbiker - this is for a great cause....... a applaud you on the work you are doing....

On the website provided I had a look around and I found that after checking out each individual link, I discovered on the 'what you need to know' and the 'Self Funding' links, you say that, each rider must come up with $950 for the ride itself... plus $50 registration (non refundable)

Well is that the same amount for everyone even if say someone starts off at Auckland only rather than going from Wellington up to Auckland back down there.......?

It does seem an huge amount of money for each rider to find.
Many may have their own accommodation at friends places etc....

I know that it wouldn't cost me $950 to travel from Auckland and stay in Wellington (including fuel costs).

Can you please explain it............ cheers.






Dec 2006 - Travelled: Ak - Palm North - Lower Hutt - Masterton - Hastings - Taupo - Auckland - Whangarparoa - Auckland = $85 petrol for my bike
Ok it will be a bit dearer for the bigger bikes.

The amount calculated covers two-up riders as well as single ones, and aims to cover both ends of an average. It covers fuel costs incorporating the fact that fuel prices rise and fall like a tart's knickers and therefore cannnot be predicited with any certainly for the next two months. Once registrations ar all accounted for, we can negotiate discounts with the fuel companies accordingly. The figure quoted also covers the cost of decent quality accommodation necessary for riders travelling for up to eight hours every day for a full week. The importance of a proper bed every night for riders undertaking those conditions is fully appreciated by the Organiser (from substantial personal experience) and cannot be overstressed. Add to that the "realistic" fuel costs for the average bike plus rider and pillion from Wellington back to Wellington, all the way around the North Island, $1000 is a realistic amount. We're not talking crow-fly distances here, we're talking highway and coastal routes designed to take in most major towns and cities to raise awareness in the process, have a memorable week away and hopefuly get more riders on board as we go.

Whatever "profits" remain in the pot at the end of the event are being donated to the Trust that boosts women's access to Herceptin funding under the current horrible status quo, to help save their lives. Participants undertake to be involved on this basis. As has been publicized - the accounts for The Herceptin Peaceful Protest Fund will be subject to Official Audit and will be available for public scrutiny.

The $50 registration fee for each bike, comprises the rider's limited edition t-shirt that they get to keep, and all administration costs associated with getting this event supported and assisted by all the logistical teams that matter in ensuring its safe progression throughout the North Island. This is a major event, it needs major organisation and not all of that comes free. Its everybody's personal choice, whether they are a part of it or not.

People who join the ride part way through are of course most welcome to be a part of it, although they will have to arrange their own fuel and accommodation costs along the way, because to start splitting the costs for this event geographically would constitute a true administrative nightmare. However it would be helpful if part-distance riders were at least to register with the HPPR - a) to give us some clue as to what sort of numerical alert we need to give the traffic authorities as we approach each city/town to get the appropriate access through those places and alert media teams as to the scale of the event as it passes through any given point and b) to get their t-shirts that show they are are committed to being part of an event that is trying to prolong the lives of kiwi women who deserve that, whatever the cost.

In a nutshell, we need to make sure we cover the costs for each rider. What's left goes to a damn good cause.

I hope this answers your questions.

[crashe]

thank you.... for answering.....

good luck on your trip.

[maxworldbiker]

This has a feeling of hysteria about it, comparisons with Americas Cup etc are all irrelevant, noone has actually answered my question, which I definitely heard during the initial stages in the herceptin debate (ie,. that the bill for herceptin would about double the national cancer drug bill)

Hysteria?

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. Wanting to do whatver possible as a "social subculture" to try to stop kiwi women being thrown to the wolves - if this is the equivalent of "HYSTERIA" (??????????????????) then I guess I'm guilty as charged.

[maxworldbiker]

JUst out of interest, whose side are you on?

[forkoil]

can't see anyone getting hysterical myself
Well talking about the Americas cup is just a nonsense, why the cost of herceptin, why not a thousand and one other causes, its about the size of the health purse and nothing else....geeez...



Why?
Seems relevant to me, shows where the priority lies - I bet if Sir Ed had died of breast cancer it would be funded quick as a flash, no problems.

Stop talking bullshit. Its a matter of how you carve up the health budget, nothing to do with Sir Ed, in fact its in poor taste



Thought I had;
I would think it is a bit hard to quantify the total bill for cancer drugs - due to the fact not all the pills taken for cancer are limited to treating cancer alone, and some of the drugs used for cancer are not generic.
But $6Mil a year is not much.
Whats been said so far in this thread is long on hyperbole and short on facts, the hallmark of a "cause". Most kiwis will agree to fair allocation of money to the size of the need. If the arguments are encased by potential benefits versus the true costs, and compared to the allocations at present for competing causes, numbers of patients affected, benefits etc then people can judge, but going on about what a life is worth etc is emotional blackmail, after all there are plenty of other causes. What about the number of people dying of prostate cancer for instance.

[smoky]

You’re obviously looking for a fight about it - why don't you find somewhere else to masturbate in public

I'm not going to argue about the facts - people die from breast cancer, $6mil will help some of them - end of story.
Emotional blackmail - I would say cancer is a rather emotional subject

Who are you to judge what’s in 'poor taste' - as for my comment about sir Ed, it was not detrimental to him or his memory at all, so what are you on about
:no:

[forkoil]

Well you havent addressed my points, cos you cant....

[forkoil]

JUst out of interest, whose side are you on?
I'm on the side of getting the best outcomes for the most people given the limited funds available for health. It bugs me that these single issue causes are promoted so vigorously, and dare I say it, partic by women, as if their gender is somehow hard done by. You dont hear men jumping up and down about prostate cancer, and other serious effects of prostates problems. I guess because we put some faith in the medical profession to do the best they can. The fear is that if enough people shout hard enough, they skew the fund allocation to the detriment of another group, who suffer in silence and dignity.

[Nasty]

You’re obviously looking for a fight about it - why don't you find somewhere else to masturbate in public

I'm not going to argue about the facts - people die from breast cancer, $6mil will help some of them - end of story.
Emotional blackmail - I would say cancer is a rather emotional subject

Who are you to judge what’s in 'poor taste' - as for my comment about sir Ed, it was not detrimental to him or his memory at all, so what are you on about
:no:

I think that is a set of pratish comments to make ... If 'sir ed .. blah blah " .. realise that mens issues are even more underfunded that womens .. if he died of prostate cancer .. it would still be underfunded ... accept that as a fact .. because of the efficacy of the test process. Anyone can judge poor taste ... and you telling someone to bugger off cause you don't like what they say or their reaction to your comments is bloody piss poor.

[Nasty]

I'm on the side of getting the best outcomes for the most people given the limited funds available for health. It bugs me that these single issue causes are promoted so vigorously, and dare I say it, partic by women, as if their gender is somehow hard done by. You dont hear men jumping up and down about prostate cancer, and other serious effects of prostates problems. I guess because we put some faith in the medical profession to do the best they can. The fear is that if enough people shout hard enough, they skew the fund allocation to the detriment of another group, who suffer in silence and dignity.

I hear men jumping up and down about prostate cancer all the time. its not about sides ... this is a peaceful ride .... with Hecepton there is a chances and it improves significantly .. with prostate cancer there has been no improvement on the efficacy of testing which means less than 50% are accurate ... this is one of the reasons its not readily funded as a screening programme ... but it is not a problem for a doc to stick a finder up your arse and check for swelling etc.


I agree that sometimes its like the ones who scream loudest get funding ... but it really doesn't work like that. I can't get the drug that could help me cos I am too "healthy" for their stupid system ... no matter what jumping I do it doesn't make it change. hercepton is a life and death drug with a good efficacy ... why not scream ... and no I am not on the ride I just think you are picking a fight cos you want to.

[maxworldbiker]

People, just back up a little, ok??? This thread is NOT INTENDED to be a debate or competition about who is most deserving of cancer drug funding. Rather than mud slinging and insults and opinionated rantings about why one group gets attention over another (which should perhaps be taken somewhere else for a decent fight, if that's what you're looking for????), what we really need is a bit of support on this. It's about saving lives. Not playing God or preferring one group over another. To assume that it is merely about selection is to miss the bigger picture.

I believe I've said somewhere else on this forum that to go cap in hand to the government for blanket funding for ALL cancer drugs will never work because we'd have to get the whole damn country behind it and that will never happen. Its easier to eat an elephant one bite at a time, and if we can get a u-turn on one type of cancer drug, it will pave the way for the rest to follow. All I'm trying to do here is get enough people to support the need to get a drug funded for women with breast cancer. I've got my fork into the elephant, people. You have to start somewhere, and that's what I'm doing.

Anyone who hasn't got anything positive to contribue on this particular thread, which is meant to be about the ride and what its trying to do, should maybe take their whining someplace else. I'm not interested in fighting with anyone as I don't have the time for it, but I don't want to see this thread to turn into a bunfight.

Get behind this, don't get behind this, whatever you want to do is fine, just don't throw shit around in a place where all people want to do is make a positive difference.

[forkoil]

Stop being so precious. If you come onto a public forum like KB u will risk being commented on, criticised and thats healthy, mein fuhrer. I happen to disagree with the targeting of funding to particular drugs for the reasons I've given, and I have a perfect right to say so. Thats what mods are there for.

[maxworldbiker]

Freebie place on offer, sponsorship all paid for. Check out the website for details.

[ynot slow]

I'm on the side of getting the best outcomes for the most people given the limited funds available for health. It bugs me that these single issue causes are promoted so vigorously, and dare I say it, partic by women, as if their gender is somehow hard done by. You dont hear men jumping up and down about prostate cancer, and other serious effects of prostates problems. I guess because we put some faith in the medical profession to do the best they can. The fear is that if enough people shout hard enough, they skew the fund allocation to the detriment of another group, who suffer in silence and dignity.

The main thing is the right to have the right to live,be it breast,prostate,colon,lung,testical,brain,skin cancer,if the cost is $10 mil for all types of treatment to prevent the cancer spreading so what,it's just a prick that they cost of preventative treatment is outweighed by percieved cost of not treating,same with say hip replacements,isn't it cheaper to replace it asap and have the person working after say 6 weeks than give them painkillers for 12 months,with time on benefit due to unable to work,and maybe doing more damage to the person.
Hell the government wasted money on various buildings(toilets)extravagance.

Thing is most men don't talk about their illness's unlike women and although breast cancer is running behind prostate cancer,when combined with all cancers,if the women saved is your partner or mum isn't that all that matters.Likewise if your dad or you need care for prostate or testical cancer wouldn't you like treatment asap.I know of a couple of people having had treatment in Melbourne due to delays as no specialists are/were available within 6 weeks of surgery.

[ynot slow]

Freebie place on offer, sponsorship all paid for. Check out the website for details.

Take me.Checked website,bloody hectic schedule.

[forkoil]

The main thing is the right to have the right to live,be it breast,prostate,colon,lung,testical,brain,skin cancer,if the cost is $10 mil for all types of treatment to prevent the cancer spreading so what,it's just a prick that they cost of preventative treatment is outweighed by percieved cost of not treating,same with say hip replacements,isn't it cheaper to replace it asap and have the person working after say 6 weeks than give them painkillers for 12 months,with time on benefit due to unable to work,and maybe doing more damage to the person.
Hell the government wasted money on various buildings(toilets)extravagance.

Thing is most men don't talk about their illness's unlike women and although breast cancer is running behind prostate cancer,when combined with all cancers,if the women saved is your partner or mum isn't that all that matters.Likewise if your dad or you need care for prostate or testical cancer wouldn't you like treatment asap.I know of a couple of people having had treatment in Melbourne due to delays as no specialists are/were available within 6 weeks of surgery.
I agree with you. However this thread and my argument is against campaigns that promote or target one particular drug, because the purse string holders will tend to oil the squeekiest wheel and rob peter to pay paul, keeping the total drug budget the same. Thus less vocal groups get less of the cake (such as men). This is unfair. Drug campaigns should be to increase the total drug budget, rather than purely self interested.

[Nasty]

I am so in if you can take me .. I can do write ups etc.

[forkoil]

I am so in if you can take me .. I can do write ups etc.
Oh Nasty, you are so out, and just because you are pretty good with the lingo on here, doesnt mean u can do the newspaper thing

[Nasty]

Oh Nasty, you are so out, and just because you are pretty good with the lingo on here, doesnt mean u can do the newspaper thing


hehehe .. how little you know .... :)

[forkoil]

hehehe .. how little you know .... :)
c'mon, you want to tell .....

[maxworldbiker]

Nasty (ARE you nasty??? I'm scared, if y'are... and I might cry if ya nasty to me on the ride. Either that or I'll kicky'ass. :hug:

Welcome, and thanks for your PM. I've pm'd ya back to tellya to pick your chance from what's on offer, PM me back and we'll take it from there.

At the risk of sounding like a cracked record, Team Forum, we have to tear off at these government ARSEHOLES (why can't we have fonts ten feet tall?) one strip at a time. I have learned from campaigning experience that if you target one brick in the wall and get it out, its easier to ping off the next one, and that way you can get the whole wall down, as its harder to hold the fkr up with bricks missing. Don't scream at us for championing one cause over another here. Just trust the time-proven process of initially small capitulation. If we can get it, its the first step to getting the floodgates open for ALL cancer drugs to be funded. What the hell is the point of paying tens of millions for a posh new stadium if you can't fill it because everyone's dead from cancer?

Herceptin funding is an issue that has been in the headlines for a long time now, constantly, so aside from being close to my heart for many reasons, its the logical one to pursue prima facia, in an election year, and its SOOOOO not aiming to be about robbing funds from one health area for another. Its about trying to get cancer funding INCREASED, and if that comes down to taking them away from sport advertising campaigns that can do with maybe twelve million dollars instead of fifteen, or allocating "surplus" funds to it, that's all good.

[Sidewinder]

i dont have breasts, but can i come and see some to make sure your telling the truth?
promise il behave....just like the CC ride

[forkoil]

Isnt the ride about soooo getting funding for herceptin. How specifically is it aiming to get total cancer funding increased?

[maxworldbiker]

Isnt the ride about soooo getting funding for herceptin. How specifically is it aiming to get total cancer funding increased?

This is the last time I'm going to reply to you, as I suspect like all the other times me and other people on this thread have tried, its a waste of time, because you "SOOOOOO" don't seem to want to hear what's actually being said about the process. All you seem to want to do is keep coming back, like an annoying fly, to have another go, and yet another go, and another, at criticizing people from trying to do SOMETHING helpful in whatever way they feel they can. Besides complaining, what are YOU doing?

We've all got the message well and truly now that you don't agree with what this ride aims to achieve, so its hard to know what else you expect at this point. You've more than made your point here. Maybe its time to take your fight somewhere else.

[forkoil]

This is the last time I'm going to reply to you, as I suspect like all the other times me and other people on this thread have tried, its a waste of time, because you "SOOOOOO" don't seem to want to hear what's actually being said about the process. All you seem to want to do is keep coming back, like an annoying fly, to have another go, and yet another go, and another, at criticizing people from trying to do SOMETHING helpful in whatever way they feel they can. Besides complaining, what are YOU doing?

We've all got the message well and truly now that you don't agree with what this ride aims to achieve, so its hard to know what else you expect at this point. You've more than made your point here. Maybe its time to take your fight somewhere else.
You patronising cow. What I expect and what you say but fail to do is make it clear how you are not going to achieve the transfer of cancer drug money from other recipients to yours. You dont have a plan to do that do you. No its whats good for you and thats all that matters... and this is the last time I will bother talking to you.

[ynot slow]

I agree with you. However this thread and my argument is against campaigns that promote or target one particular drug, because the purse string holders will tend to oil the squeekiest wheel and rob peter to pay paul, keeping the total drug budget the same. Thus less vocal groups get less of the cake (such as men). This is unfair. Drug campaigns should be to increase the total drug budget, rather than purely self interested.

Yep agree with you,can see you are not against giving the drugs to all those worthy,and agree how do you determine who gets what?
Me I have no problems with the system,I was dealt with pretty quick,but have heard of others waiting way to long.

[ynot slow]

I was a little annoyed when I first saw this ride in October or so,my belief was why target this part of the cancer spectrum.As this ride gets momentum and publicity the organisers can add weight to all sides of cancer treatment and drug prevention ideas.

At the very least with publicity hopefully generated by this event people will get vocal for treatment for all illness's,just look at the sunsmart system in schools undertaken by the local cancer society nationwide.

[maxworldbiker]

I was a little annoyed when I first saw this ride in October or so,my belief was why target this part of the cancer spectrum.As this ride gets momentum and publicity the organisers can add weight to all sides of cancer treatment and drug prevention ideas.

At the very least with publicity hopefully generated by this event people will get vocal for treatment for all illness's,just look at the sunsmart system in schools undertaken by the local cancer society nationwide.

Yep, that's the over-arching aim. To get Herceptin funded, well that's a start. I'm just a small jo-public person, really, so I can't for one second imagine I could ever change the whole face of NZ's cancer funding structure by myself. That would be an impossibly tall order for anyone! I don't have a master plan. What might happen tho, hopefully is for people to see that it worked (if it does - Gosh, I hope it does!!!) and start campaiging too, for funding for cancer drugs that are personal to THEM, for whatever reasons.

Think domino effect... Once a governing entitiy has capitulated on one brick in the wall, it could be just that bit harder for them to justify on-going refusal to fund others that are equally important, and bingo, THERE'S the chink in the armour. My personal experiences with cancer convince me totally that no one type is more deserving of attention than another, but we have to start somewhere and there's more chance of making a positive impression if you're passionate about your cause, and I'm passionate about Herceptin, so I'm going for it.

Just had a very nice email from a breast cancer support group area co-ordinator in the North Island, inviting the Herceptin Riders to a bit of a welcome party en route thru that area. Another sponsored place on offer too, for anyone who wants to take it up. Tons of positives coming thru:niceone:. Keep watching!

[GazzaRuney]

Damn - that blue writing is hard to read !!!!!!!!!

[maxworldbiker]

Congratulations to the lovely Miss Nasty, who has bagged the Bike Rider Magazine sponsorship! She gets her ride fully paid for by the magazine, and will no double become temporarily famous as a result, as Raconteur for BRM's Herceptin Ride review article.
Who knows where it might lead for ya, Nasty... (I can't keep calling you that...)

Don't forget to pack ya party frock... or at the very least, ya party pants!

[Nasty]

Congratulations to the lovely Miss Nasty, who has bagged the Bike Rider Magazine sponsorship! She gets her ride fully paid for by the magazine, and will no double become temporarily famous as a result, as Raconteur for BRM's Herceptin Ride review article.
Who knows where it might lead for ya, Nasty... (I can't keep calling you that...)

Don't forget to pack ya party frock... or at the very least, ya party pants!

I am thrilled to have the backing of BRM for this ride. I am really excited about getting out there and getting some good messages out to the public. At the very least I have some party pants put aside .. I think I will be wearing them under the leathers though ;)

[maxworldbiker]

I am thrilled to have the backing of BRM for this ride. I am really excited about getting out there and getting some good messages out to the public. At the very least I have some party pants put aside .. I think I will be wearing them under the leathers though ;)

Well, I hope they're sparkly-spangly, young lady! A Friday night in Auckland and a Saturday night in Tauranga??? :beer: You just might need them! Hmmm... mental note to self... stock some alka seltza in the back-up truck.:doctor: !

[maxworldbiker]

Herceptin Riders welcome Jen to the HR team. Many of you KB'ers out there already know this lass, who is based in Nelson. Jen has stepped into the breach at the TOTAL last minute (as in just a few short hours ago!) to fill the shoes of Alex, our rider from the USA who has unfortunately had a last minute change of work schedule and now can't get out here to NZ in time to do this thing with us all. Jen has had a lot of help today to move the mountains that stood in the way of her coming with us. Alex will be very chuffed that his place hasn't been wasted, and we're glad Jen's been able to pull it all together at such short notice. The fact that she has is extraordinary. We take our hats off to her for the achievement, and it will be just great to have her with us.

[MyGSXF]

Herceptin Riders welcome Jen to the HR team.

Thanks Max.. :hug:

I still can't believe all that has happened today.. & that I am leaving in a few hours, to go on this trip!! :blink:

The support & generosity of the people involved today, has been truly overwhelming!! :crybaby: It has restored my lost faith in human beings!! :2thumbsup

I will do my best to fill Alex's shoes.. :first:

Jen :rockon:

[maxworldbiker]

Well, she's right about that, folks! The generosity of the people out there has been indescribable. People have literally THROWN resources at this whole event, in so very many forms its hard to believe, and I've been reduced to tears myself on more than one occasion by it, and by the message that so clearly underpins it: So many people want this stupid Herceptin decision reversed. I know we're doing the right thing with this protest, whichever way it goes.

There are people out there, of course, who could have easily helped or supported us in any number of small, painless and practical ways, but who instead chose not to offer or respond to requests for assistance, but thankfully they have been very, very few.

Jen is absolutely right in saying that the generosity of so many people really does restore some faith in human nature - albeit with labour's (do they deserve a capital letter? hmmm...) Polly Tishins noticably absent from the list!

So its onwards from tomorrow.

Rupert is packed and ready to go, but Bourbon has gone AWOL, so my mission for this morning, before I hit the road myself for Wellington, is to find the little bugger before Rupes ends up in a screamig teddybear heap, has a tantrum, and refuses to get on the bike!

If you see us on the road, people, give us a toot!

[Nasty]

Day one .... wahoo .... 14 bikes turned up at Te Papa ... some were registered riders and some were supporters .... it was a great start ....

off to Palmerston North ... up state one ... getting used to each other and how we ride .... Had lunch with the ladies from the Cancer Group there ... wonderful ladies ... then off to Hawera for afternoon tea .. thanks Shaz ... wonderful cafe you work at .. and our support drive loved the apple crumble!!!!

From there it was off to New phymouth ... well we arrived here and were met by Nadroj ... who organised a place for dinner (stumble inn) ... and some of us went and met with inline4!!

Stayed at the Saddle and Sulky (great sleep) ... woke and am now preparing for the next phase ... off to Waitomo for Lunch then Huntly for afternoon tea ... before heading to Auckland for the night (staying in remuera) ...

Signing off for now - Nasty!!

[sunhuntin]

Day one .... wahoo .... 14 bikes turned up at Te Papa ... some were registered riders and some were supporters .... it was a great start ....

off to Palmerston North ... up state one ... getting used to each other and how we ride .... Had lunch with the ladies from the Cancer Group there ... wonderful ladies ... then off to Hawera for afternoon tea .. thanks Shaz ... wonderful cafe you work at .. and our support drive loved the apple crumble!!!!

From there it was off to New phymouth ... well we arrived here and were met by Nadroj ... who organised a place for dinner (stumble inn) ... and some of us went and met with inline4!!

Stayed at the Saddle and Sulky (great sleep) ... woke and am now preparing for the next phase ... off to Waitomo for Lunch then Huntly for afternoon tea ... before heading to Auckland for the night (staying in remuera) ...

Signing off for now - Nasty!!


i had a very very welcome friend turn up at work last night... mr grub! more than gave me a shock, was great to see him.

i finished work early, and then took grub back to my girlfriends place. she got all kitted up and we rode with him to bulls for tea. if we didnt have to work today, we would have ridden all the way to welly with him.

susan and i will be down in may at some stage [im thinking weekend of the 24th] so will call to see you two.

[ManDownUnder]

bump - note my footer... they arrive in AKL tonight and there's some media event on at 7:00 in Skycity... come one - come all.

[Nasty]

Well day two is done ... and there was some excitement .... we left New Plymouth and rode through to Waitomo for Lunch ... arrived slightly late but had time for some kai at curleys bar ... (great food and so on my diet) ... from there it was otrohanga for gas ... then off to Auckland .... which was interesting .... somehow we lost our support vehicle and then found him (broken - he did get fixed) ... we passed quickly through Hunterville then off up the motorway to Auckland ... which at peak hour was fun!! ... we managed to stay together as a group which meant we all got where we needed ....

Press was at Skycity ... and we had a great welcome .... a number of kbers turned up YAY .. was great to meet Frost MDU mahaman and mom ... and Jorja .... and I don't know who I missed .. sorry I got a crappy memory!

TODAY
we ride to Tauranga ... I think we are doing a version of the Coro Loop ...we are staying at the Boulevard Spa ... not sure of eta there but should be before or around 5 ish ....

oh well off for a morning shower and breakfast before preping for the day .... have a great one guys .. .when you see a pile of bikes decorated in pink with bras on them know that you have found us!

cheers
Nasty

PS thanks Sun for looking after the lover and making him stop!

[ynot slow]

Well done guys,really annoyed to be unable to travel with you,as said many thanks for the offer of a freeby Max,but as we prepare for the bros' wedding thoughts are for a safe and rewarding trip to all.Glad you enjoyed the coffee and atmosphere of the naki.

[Nasty]

Well yesterday we were escourted out of Auckland by members of Ulysys and WIMA ... we went to Whangamata for Lunch (best non burger burger I ever had) ... and then down to Tauranga ... we enjoyed company during a dip in the pool to cool down after a hot ride .. and then regrouped for a BBQ ... great food ... a little to drink (water for me) ... and then chat and bullshit all night) YAY!!!

The full group is now together .. .and today is a free day to make our way to Opotiki .... a few are going Rotorua ... me and mike are thinking of becoming cafe queens and stopping to sip coffee at all stops ... :)

Oh well ... will check in by tomorrow morning and will have all the details for the final days ride into Wellington!!!!

Cheers muchly ... Nasty

[chanceyy]

sounds like your having an awesome ride hun :2thumbsup.. take care and will look forward to catching up soon :hug:

[McDuck]

see you ladies on wed.
Looking forward to it. (given the pink bras maby a be a threat to my manhood...)

[Grub]

see you ladies on wed....)

Wednesday?

They're coming past your place on Tuesday. Monday is Opotiki-Gisborne, Tuesday is Gizzie-Masterton and Wednesday morning is Masterton to Parliament, arriving at 12 noon.

[McDuck]

Wednesday?

They're coming past your place on Tuesday. Monday is Opotiki-Gisborne, Tuesday is Gizzie-Masterton and Wednesday morning is Masterton to Parliament, arriving at 12 noon.

Well in the PM it said monday the 11th, so i am going to go with waht ever day is the 11th :)

[chanceyy]

Wednesday?

They're coming past your place on Tuesday. Monday is Opotiki-Gisborne, Tuesday is Gizzie-Masterton and Wednesday morning is Masterton to Parliament, arriving at 12 noon.

Nasty wants everyone to know that its crappy reception in Opotiki so she will not be posting tonite .. btw grub nasty is in my ear at the moment .....:shutup::innocent: :lol:


Well in the PM it said monday the 11th, so i am going to go with waht ever day is the 11th :) monday is the 10th and tues is the 11th ..

[McDuck]

Somthing has come up and i can not get to the ride in guzzi. Will defently meet people (probebly on the road about 100kms out form napier) or at napier itself.

[MIXONE]

So is the return to Welly Tues or Wed.I want to try and get some photos around Plimmerton.

[McDuck]

So is the return to Welly Tues or Wed.I want to try and get some photos around Plimmerton.

wed...........

[Nasty]

Photos at Plimmerton should have been taken last week .... when we left.

We are returning over the takas ... anyway will post more later.

[ManDownUnder]

Good luck today ladies and laddies... paint 'the town pink!

[Nasty]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4436627a10.html

Already in the papers!!

[Grub]

What a great ride and inspiring day today!

A whole heap of 'Rapa bikes tirned up at Solway this morning along with at least Mrs Kendog from Welly. Thirty-two bikes formed up into a slow convoy over the hill. No hooning this morning (we won't mention yesterday) as the group wanted t stay tight for the impact it caused.

One of the tough things with a large group is getting split by cars and/or lights but today it didn't happen. Because we were doing 90ish and staying tight, no cars broke into the line (that I could see from the front anyway) and Maxine and I as leaders managed to catch every light on the orange all the way into and through town ... the odds on that are not even computable. So we were all able to bunch up and arrive at parliament together at 12:14 for a 12:15 target - woo hoo.

Fron the Stuff article Nasty posted you can see it went down really well and it shoudl also make the Prime and TV3 News at 5:30 and 6:00 respectively.

Well done to the 10 riders who made the committment to do the whole 7 days and 2,094kms --- what legends! (including my lovely Nasty, its nice to have her home)

[ynot slow]

Well done to all involved and organizing people.

Gotta keep all the polly's up to date, even the friggin pricks doing the end of tour trips overseas ,most paid by us,shit the cost of business class to England return would give treatment to one person.Hope they remember we vote them in.

[Nasty]

YAY .. it was on the one network news ... Good job Max :)

[ynot slow]

Just checked teletext,was on pg 131 about the ride and what it is about.

Not bad because teletext is usually as up to date as yesterdays news placed tommorrow.

[maxworldbiker]

Huge thanks go to Nasty (who actually isn't - sorry to blow your street cred, hon, but you're a TOP lass and one I'd ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!! want to have on board). My laptop aint worth shyte, I've discovered, so me getting on line to keep everyone up to date warn't a happenin thang. The daily updates were just one of the breaches this lovely woman stepped into en route.

Thanks go too, to all on KB who were positive, encouraging and supportive of this event in the various ways it came together. I'm happy to say that it pretty much achieved its aims. It really WAS hard for people to ignore us, and I have to say I was slightly concerned at a few clouds of black smoke that materialized when we were asked to do a rev at the foot of the parliament steps. Nobody blew their engines out, thank God, and we made quite a statement. We've struggled in various places to get media coverage, but we got plenty of it where it was really needed, so that's what matters, and I've met so many fantastic people, it more than makes up for the very few assholes I've come across that for whatever reason chose to tell me I was wasting my time with this protest, and made a conscious choice not to get behind it. Being taken into Masterton on the backof the Mayor's bike, after mine temporarily died, was one of the highlights of the whole week for me, and the hosted afternoon tea with the extraordinary women of Tokomaru Bay was up there with it.

The team were just fucking awesome, too. I couldn't have wished for better people. I can't thank them enough for their spirit, their belief, their riding skills and their tolerance of the various glitches a weeklong event of this kind can throw out. We got on top of all of them, and it was largely thanks to so many of the team being solution rather than problem focussed.

I have been asked to do a South Island run, and I've agreed to. I will organise that for the coming spring, with the focus on fundraising rather then politics, which is now up to the Gods (or is it the courts?).

So anyone keen on doing that run, probably for a week again, can watch this space, and I'll float the details when I've pulled them together.

I still have a wee few t-shirts left from this event, so if anyone wants one,PM me and I'll chuck one in the post to ya.

Cheers one and all, we did it, we did it well, and thanks most of all to those KB Mods who agreed to give the Herceptin Peaceful Protest Ride the profile most people agree it deserved.

[Grub]

And few will ever know Max what this cost you personally in time, anguish, broken vehicles and loss of your life as you knew it for such a long time.

Big Ups girl ... and for the last time since there's no traffic lights here :banana:

[SDU]

Aawesome thing that all involved has done especially Max:clap:
Everything little thing helps bring more awareness to the public = more pressure on the govt & pharmac:2thumbsup
Glad you have all made it safely to the beehive & got some coverage.

[maxworldbiker]

And few will ever know Max what this cost you personally in time, anguish, broken vehicles and loss of your life as you knew it for such a long time.

Big Ups girl ... and for the last time since there's no traffic lights here :banana:

Thanks Grub. It was such a joy to meet you and have you along with us for the time you were able. As to the time/anguish thing, it was all good at the end, wasn't it?

As for the broken vehicle, my truck (Tyota Hilux Surf 2.4 Turbo diesel automatic) is stranded in Napier, and the AA won't help, owing to a long story. Condensed, some twat that renewed our premium over the phone didn't give us our AA Plus coverage that we've had for twelve straight years, and we didn't know this, so we never expected to be told today that the AA won't help us. Nor will they take any responsibility for their employee's spectacular rudeness and denseness.

Piggy bank is nearly empty, truck has (we believe) a blown head gasket and/or some oil leak issue that renders it not driveable. Also, because it is an auto its not rope-towable either. Hmmmm.......................

If anyone can help us out by getting it to Wellington's Ferry Terminal for us, we can sort out the Cook Strait/Picton/Nelson end. But we need real help here, so if anyone can, or knows someone who can, help us without it costing us all of our remaining arms and legs, I'd love to hear from you.

Cheers.

M

[Maha]

truck has (we believe) a blown head gasket and/or some oil leak issue that renders it not driveable


Why on Earth didnt you get that seen to/fixed in Auckland? The support truck was all the talk on Friday night, and the problem with it was rightfully diagnosed (a blown head gasket) by the driver and others gathered. Didnt this problem with the truck start soon leaving Taranaki? Solutions were offered up the time but i guess not heeded, ah well, Bugger!

[Lissa]

Bloody Awesome!!!! :sunny:Wish I could have rode with you guys some way, but had to go to work... (I was the one that popped into the Solway Park to see Nastygurl!) The time and effort you all put in to this is amazing, and I'll be in for a t-shirt! Well done! :sunny:

[maxworldbiker]

truck has (we believe) a blown head gasket and/or some oil leak issue that renders it not driveable


Why on Earth didnt you get that seen to/fixed in Auckland? The support truck was all the talk on Friday night, and the problem with it was rightfully diagnosed (a blown head gasket) by the driver and others gathered. Didnt this problem with the truck start soon leaving Taranaki? Solutions were offered up the time but i guess not heeded, ah well, Bugger!

The initial problem you're referring to actually was fixed. It was a different problem further down the line, three days later, with a different hose that was fine at the time the other one blew out, and an oil leak that developed after a long haul up a long hill with a heavy trailer.

Nobody on board had a crystal ball. Helpful suggestions will be of more use here now than retrospective observations (accurate or otherwise), I think.

[ynot slow]

AAplus,yep is good,we blew a radiator in Napier last year after Claptons' concert,filled the car with water,got to Hastings and thought bugger it,rang AA,got a towie from Hastings to Norsewood pub where we were staying,must have got the same firm,but our case was the towie(60yr plus)was stoned,nearly lost the truck once.Only thing was we had std cover at time,now have plus cover for both car and bike.

Can you arrange for those mobile headgasket guys to do a repair,seem cheap if only a gasket,fyi it cost us $320 to go from Hastings to Palmy with two companies.

Will put my notice in now to try to do South Island,work permitting,i.e not close to xmas lol.

Now it's over I guess ya can look back and think what was I worried about,yeah right.But sounds like it was a great group of committed people with a great motivation to knock the bastard off,bastard being Sir Eds' favourite word and Lance Armstrongs name for chemo.

[maxworldbiker]

For those who are interested (?) the result of the Judicial Review is out, and the judge has ruled that PHARMAC did not adequately consult before refusing to fund the full 52 week course of Herceptin to women with aggressive early-stage HER2+ breast cancer, and that...


THEY NOW MUST DO SO!

.. and QUICKLY!

This is a really good initial outcome for the women of New Zealand, especially for the many unsuspecting ones out there walking around who absolutely WILL get this horrible, random, murderous disease. This initial victory offers real traction, and we can move forward with that.

My phone is ringing off the wall. My inside people are telling me PHARMAC is stunned at the outcome. It wasn't what they anticipated, and they are tonight in consultation with their legal people about how best to respond publicly to the ruling because they have absolutely NO CLUE how to avoid a lynch mob confrontation if they put one word out of context.

This is the absolute best time to keep up the pressure on the government. If enough people howl with enough force, PHARMAC can't walk away from the cancer funding issue that is bringing this country to its knees, or keep sticking their heads up their asses trying to pretend it doesn't matter.

So, get on yer bikes, peeps, one and all, and join us for Susan Marshall's fundraiser. It will be another high profile Herceptin Riders event, and it will be all the more so with numbers to support it.

[ynot slow]

Could be getting better on the oncology side of things,read that 2 german radiographers are coming to Wellie,and Palmie has a new machine being set up all of $7mill worth.

Know of a guy down in Palmie supporting his wife,he met a few other partners in waiting area(as you do),said he thought a guy looked familiar,and was an ex NZ cricketer from late 80's,whose wife is having treatment.Goes to show this disease has no bounds,well done to all participants for getting the media interest.

The TV3 news had a clip of you girls riding to parliament.

[maxworldbiker]

The TV3 news had a clip of you girls riding to parliament.

Not just the girls, either! There were plenty of strapping fellas there too, on the day! Sources tell me the Wairarapa did another spread on us yesterday too. Nice that its still got so much momentum. All the better to build on, methinks... lets keep turning the screws! Its obviously working...

[ynot slow]

Not just the girls, either! There were plenty of strapping fellas there too, on the day! Sources tell me the Wairarapa did another spread on us yesterday too. Nice that its still got so much momentum. All the better to build on, methinks... lets keep turning the screws! Its obviously working...

Didn't really look at sex of bikers lol,was impressive sight on tv.

Gotta keep turning up the screws,the polititians are thick as.At least maybe time for a party to grab a few votes with the health debates.At least we know the Labour parties idea on health issues and pharmac.