This week I have been taught a powerful lesson – a lesson in commitment, endurance and citizenship – by 5 young men who I am proud to call students of the school I work in and proud to know personally as friends of my son (one of the 5). 3 of them, Matt Jopson, Joe Langley and Ben Connor (all 17 years old) decided about 8 weeks ago to plan and train for a bike ride from Ashburton to Invercargill to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ. They asked my son, Andrew Robertson, and another friend, James Smith (both 18) to be their support crew and the drivers of the lead and trail pilot vehicles.

The boys set about planning this venture with purpose and clarity of vision. They sought and acted on advice from
experts: cyclists who’d done this sort of thing before, LTSA, adults who had driven pilot vehicles for cyclists before, and people who knew about the training and nutritional requirements to support their plan. They set up an online donation page, they talked to newspapers and radio stations and, first and foremost they talked to the Prostate Foundation to pitch their idea and see  if this organisation was ok with being the beneficiary of their efforts. Needless to say, the Prostate Foundation is thrilled – young men doing something selfless for others; mainly older men you could say.

The boys planned the timing carefully. They worked out the time they’d need to prepare and still be able to beat the upcoming southern winter and leave themselves time to prepare for their internal school examinations. They couldn’t wait ’til spring – they
have NCEA Level 3 to achieve and holiday jobs to raise money for their university plans. And, young men being young men, they had a compelling imperative to get on with it while their enthusiasm and motivation to succeed was immediate and therefore extremely high.

Schools along the wayhave given them lunch – delighted to welcome and support role models such as these. Businesses have generously offered them sponsorship through provision of equipment, nutritional supplements and even replacement tyres after two punctures north of Oamaru on the 2nd day! Family members alongthe  journey have provided them with beds and food. This has truly become a community project.

Their parents have shown them the immense respect of letting them be in charge of this venture; supporting them and advising them when necessary, but allowing them to take complete ownership of their great adventure. In this age of “blackhawk” parenting and micromanaging by parents and schools of the daily lives of young people, I also stand in admiration of these parents for
stepping back to let their sons step up.

Today, day 4, the cyclists have had to grind it out; tired and extremely sore, over the rolling hills from Dunedin to Gore. Tomorrow they ride to Invercargill to be met by the mayor and, hopefully, a whole new group of generous donors whose support for
the Prostate Foundation is all the reward these boys are looking for.

Young men working together and in support of each other in order to help others – it doesn’t get any better than this. They will remember this experience and the things they have learnt from it about themselves and what they are capable of, for the rest
of their lives. (unlike last week’s English lesson which has probably already been consigned to the “trash bin” of their memories!)

This week
I, and others, have been given a powerful lesson in managing self,
participating and contributing, thinking and relating to others; a powerful
lesson in community, integrity and respect.

Please consider sharing this story among your networks and supporting Matt, Joe Ben and their
support team, by donating to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand on

http://www.everydayhero.co.nz/raging_bulls

This week I have been
given a powerful lesson…