A family in Timaru are proving to be suckers for punishment.
Alice Brice and her two children will take part in the Back to Base challenge for the second year in a row.
Back to Base is a virtual event in which people are encouraged to challenge themselves to cover the distance equivalent to a real rescue helicopter mission.
Those distances ranged between 9km and 155km.
Last year the trio managed a combined 367km with then 8-year-old Felicity cycling 100km, and then 6-year-old Hugo covering 112km and mum Alice running 155km.
The family had a goal of raising $500, but by the end of the month they had raised over $1800.
Despite the large sum raised last year, they have set a goal of $750 as they already had other fundraisers on their hands this month; selling chocolates and fertiliser for other causes.
Mrs Brice said the children had not shown much interest in participating this year, and she had not wanted to push them if they were not keen.
But when a rescue helicopter flew over her while she was at work, she decided she still needed to support it.
‘‘So I told the kids I would do it, and they didn’t have to.’’
She said there was instant ‘‘Fomo’’ (fear of missing out).
‘‘Next minute all three of us were signed up again,’’ Mrs Brice said.
Hugo, 7, said he wanted to participate because it was fun, ‘‘because I go biking and stuff’’.
Felicity, 9, said she decided to join up because it gave her something to do, and it helped her to be active.
The children had started reading Every Day’s a Good Day, the true story of William Pike’s survival on Mt Ruapehu.
Mrs Brice said a helicopter was used in his rescue.
While Hugo had lost interest in the story, Felicity was still enjoying it and continuing to ask lots of questions, Mrs Brice said.
People could join them on August 16 for a bike ride from the Cave Arms Tavern at 10.30am to Sir Basil Arthur Park in Washdyke.
