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Welcome to the FFC 1000 Charity Ride for KidsCan
Ten years after raising $170,000 to help 800 Kiwi kids through KidsCan, the Fat Fathers Cycling crew is back for an even bigger challenge. In the last week of November, we'll ride 1,000 km, climb over 14,000 metres, and finish by completing the Taupō Cycle Challenge as we aim to raise over $200,000 for KidsCan to support Kiwi Kids.
All riders are self-funding their ride to Taupō, and every dollar you donate goes to KidsCan.
I feel very lucky to be able to ride my bike often, with incredible people and in an awesome little country. It will be a privilege to be able to ride 1000km over 7 days, and give back to those who need some extra help. Your donation is very much appreciated.
About KidsCan
KidsCan is a charity dedicated to helping Kiwi kids living in poverty. They provide food, jackets, shoes and health products to 1,500 schools and early childhood centres across New Zealand. With these essentials, kids can focus on learning – giving them the chance to be who they want to be.
History and Impact
KidsCan was founded by CEO Julie Chapman in 2005 and was initially run out of her garage. Now, the organisation has grown to become one of New Zealand's leading charities helping Kiwi kids.
The organisation supports tamariki in more than 1,500 schools and early childhood centres. Each year KidsCan's volunteers pack millions of items of food which are sent from its Auckland warehouse all over the country. The charity also provides tens of thousands of jackets, shoes and health products.
Their partner schools and early childhood centres report that KidsCan support makes a difference to the wellbeing of their students, helping to increase participation and attendance. KidsCan alumni tell them that being warm and dry at school, with a guaranteed meal every day, helped them to learn and achieve their goals.
None of this would be possible without the support of generous Kiwis whose donations ensure children thrive.
The Fundriders
The Organising Committee
We're extremely grateful for the many hours of work the organising committee has put in to make this fundraiser and charity ride successful.
The Riders & Fundraisers
Meet the Fundriders — the riders and fundraisers who've spent the last 12 months training and fundraising to make the FFC 1000 possible.
Support Vehicles
The Full Route — 7 Stages, 7 Different Challenges
Stage by Stage
How each day's distance and climbing stacks up against the others
Our Charity Ride Jersey
We'll be riding in a special-edition FFC 1000 jersey for our Charity Ride. Inspired by the iconic Swandri bush shirt, the design should feel right at home as we make our way through the towns, backroads and heartland communities of the lower North Island.
It's a fitting look for a group of cyclists about to spend several days battling hills, headwinds and questionable levels of comfort, all in the name of a great cause. While the original Swandri was designed to handle the great New Zealand outdoors, we're hoping our version performs just as well when things get a little sweaty.
Supporters
We're extremely grateful for every dollar donated to support KidsCan NZ.
We would also like to extend a special thank you to the following organisations for their generous support of our fundraising campaign and for helping make our Charity Ride possible through their financial and logistical support.
Fundraising Events
Our goal is simple: raise as much as we can for KidsCan, with the ride helping us spread the word. From raffles and auctions to sausage sizzles and quiz nights, there are plenty of ways to get behind the cause, whether you join us in person or get involved online from wherever you are. The riders are self-funding their ride to Taupō, so every dollar donated goes directly to KidsCan.
Upcoming Events
| What | When | Where | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Award-winning luxury Martinborough bach getaway | Now until 13th November | Online — enter here | Win a 2-night stay at the luxury, 4 bedroom Quirky & Cool on Cork. Located in central Martinborough, Quirky & Cool on Cork is a recently completed, architect-designed, four-bedroom, two-bathroom property. Ticket info and more details here. |
| Puku Pies October Fundraiser for KidsCan | Throughout October | All four Puku Pies stores across Wellington | For the month of October, Puku Pies will be donating $1 to KidsCan for every Pie of the Month sold. This month's Pie of the Month is Korean BBQ Pork. |
| Jake's Flaming Chilli Crisp Oil on sale | Now until stocks are sold | Online and at fundraising events | $10 from every jar goes to KidsCan. Find out more. |
| Hargy's FFC Trail Stoke Tee's | Available now | Online — order here | Get your FFC 1000 Charity Ride or FFC Friday Bays t-shirts from Wellington based Trail Stoke. Both men's and women's sizes available and $20 from each t-shirt sold goes to KidsCan. |
| Hutt Quiz Night Fundraiser | Sunday 1 November, 5:30pm arrival for a 6:00pm start | Abandoned Taproom, Petone | A great night of trivia, food and drinks in support of KidsCan. Teams of six, $120 per team ($20 per person) — the bar menu will be available throughout the evening, so round up your smartest (or most entertaining) group of six. Every team that enters helps us raise more for KidsCan. To book your team, contact Marek at FFC.ride@gmail.com. Spaces are limited, so get your team locked in early! |
Past Events
A look back at events we've already run — thanks to everyone who came along and supported the cause.
| What | When | Where | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff's Virtual Double Everest | October 2026 | Jeff's Garage | Jeff rode over 300km with over 12,000m of climbing and 11 laps of the infamous Alpe d'Huez on Zwift in a continuous session. We're super proud of his effort, and you can be too by helping him smash his $5,000 fundraising goal. Support Jeff Here. |
| Bunnings Sausage Sizzle | October 2026 | Bunnings, Lyall Bay | Staggo, Kevin and the team fired up the BBQ, serving hot sausages and cold drinks, with all proceeds going to KidsCan. Over $2,000 was raised over two days at the sizzle. |
| Charity Quiz Night | September 2026 | Parrot Dog, Lyall Bay | Thanks to everyone who came to the Quiz and purchased raffle tickets and auction items. Over $5,000 raised for KidsCan over the evening |
| James's Bay of Many Coves Auction | September 2026 | Trade Me | James Gould hosted an online auction via Trade Me for a 2-night stay at the fabulous Bay Of Many Coves Resort in the Marlborough Sounds valued at over $4,100. This luxury escape included two nights accommodation for two, complimentary bottle of Taittinger Champagne, breakfast each morning, fine dining each evening at the Foredeck Restaurant and return Cougar Line water taxi transfers from Picton. The auction raised over $2,700 for KidsCan. |
| Konrad's handmade dumplings for KidsCan | SOLD OUT | Online and at fundraising events | With support from Oriental Cuisine, who supplied the dumpling skins, Kon handmade 6,820 pork and cabbage dumplings over 10 months, raising an incredible $5,000 for KidsCan. |
| Karori Classics Concert Series — Thomas Guldborg Solo Concert | July 2026 | St Mary's Church, Karori | As part of the Karori Classics Concert Series, FFC's own Thomas Guldborg performed a solo concert benefitting the fundraising campaign, raising over $1,500 for KidsCan. |
| FFC 1000 Golf day | March 2026 | Manor Park Golf Sanctuary | Shaun and Rewa organised and hosted a charity golf day with team entries, hole and prize sponsorships, and cart hire, raising over $12,000 for KidsCan! |
| Evening with Zac Prendergast | October 2025 | iRide | iRide hosted a special evening with Zac Prendergast — the only New Zealander to be appointed as a UCI Commissaire at both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España! An auction at the end of the night raised over $2,500 for KidsCan. |
Follow the Ride
We post training rides, sponsor shout-outs and updates from the road on both Instagram and Facebook — same content on each, so follow whichever you actually use.
Gallery
