Tour de France challenge beckons for John Randal
Dr John Randal, Associate Dean (Students) at Victoria Business School, heads to France at the end of the week to tackle the ride of his life—the Tour de France.
The popular academic is part of team of eight New Zealanders who are cycling the entire Tour de France route a day ahead of the main pack to raise money and awareness for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
Dr Randal has so far personally raised over $20,000 for the foundation. In addition, he has donated $1,300 to the University’s Student Hardship Fund, and plans to match University funding towards a Summer Research Scholarship on student wellbeing.
"I'm really starting to get excited about the trip," he says.
"The first few months of the year were tough, with a lot of training, and fundraising activity. As the weather has worsened, the training has become less pleasant, and I’m looking forward to actually enjoying riding again!
"I'm a bit problem-focused, and with the passage of time, I'm able to look back on the efforts to date as a roaring success, rather than one drama after another.
"Throughout, the support of the University has been truly uplifting, both at an institutional and personal level, and I’ll be eternally grateful for that."
Having suffered from periods of depression throughout his adult life, Dr Randal has relished the opportunity the project has given him to talk to people about mental health. One of his goals is to emphasise the positive impact of physical exercise and training.
"An insight I’ve gained, is the value of having something significant to look forward to, and I would encourage all colleagues to find time in the busy year for something a bit different—though not necessarily a 3500km bike ride!"
- Daily updates will be available on the team’s Facebook page and there will be a weekly update of John’s progress on the University’s Facebook page
- Anyone wishing to donate can do so through the fundraising page