Southland, despite being a great place to live, is amongst the leading places in New Zealand for the country’s number one killer (heart attack and stroke). Especially when considered that they are largely preventable with good lifestyle and medical management.

The Heart Foundation is the charity that leads the fight for heart health for all New Zealanders. Your donations help the Heart Foundation keep Southland families together for longer, by allowing it to continue its work advancing cardiac care, funding heart research and promoting healthy lifestyles. This money will support the development and implementation of a programme to help high risk people reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.

This programme will be the first of its kind in New Zealand and will help save the lives of Southland people.

The Great Southern Cycle Challenge is a new initiative by the Invercargill South Rotary Club to raise funds for the Heart Foundation. It is a virtual mini tour of Southland, open to all cyclists of average or better fitness levels.

Starting from the ILT Velodrome at Stadium Southland in Invercargill the course takes in Winton, Browns, Hedgehope, Mataura, Edendale, Wyndham and Seaward Downs before returning to the finish at the Velodrome. All roads are open to other users so participants must obey the road code at all times.

While the organisers will make every effort to ensure the safe passage of the event, participants are reminded that they compete entirely at their own risk.