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The Herceptin Riders Peaceful Protest
Visit www.herceptinriders.co.nz
What's it all about?
Update March 2008
The Herceptin Riders made a victorious entry to Parliament's forecou
rt on Wednesday March 12 after their week-long Protest Ride through the North Island. The roar of 35 bikes and riders decked out in flamboyant pink attracted a crowd of over 100 supporters and several politicians. BCAC members Anne Hayden (who presented the first Herceptin petition with over 18,000 signatures in March 2006), Nic Russell and Chris Walsh spoke as did National MP Jackie Blue and Associate Health Minister Steve Chadwick. (Photo L to R: Annette Wikeepa, Anne Hayden, Nic Russell,, Jackie Blue).
Organiser Maxine Cook (pictured below on left with three Riders) presented a third petition, bearing 1500 signatures collected during the Protest Ride. The petition asked
that Herceptin be funded for 52 weeks for women with early stage HER2 positive breast cancer.
"Apathy is a disease far more insidious in its damage than breast cancer, and it will kill a lot more people," says Max on her website. "But only if we let it. And nobody can change that for any of us. We have to change it for ourselves."
Update February 2008
The Herceptin Riders event is gaining momentum as registrations and offers of support, sponsorship and assistance come rolling in from all over New Zealand.
Three lucky riders and their pillions now have their ride costs sponsored by magazines New Idea, Bike Rider and Motorcycle Trader. Offers are coming in from breast cancer support groups around the North Island to meet the riders and host them at various points on the route.
Organiser Maxine Cook adds, ‘We've also had massive support from bike shop retailers who have donated some extraordinarily generous goodies for raffles and prizes for the riders.’
A terrific ‘Herceptin Riders – Biking for Boobs!’ T-shirt has been designed by Nelson-based artist Dean Raybould to commemorate the occasion – these are available for purchase on the Herceptin Riders website.
Max would also like to encourage web visitors to download the petition form, collect signatures and send them in. The Petition asks that Herceptin be fully funded for the internationally accepted course of 12 months, rather than the 9 weeks that is currently offered to New Zealand women. ‘The more signatures we have, the better it will be,’ says Max.
What’s it all about and why is it happening?
It's about two things - boobs and bikes! Firstly, it’s about
motorcyclists getting together and having some fun. Secondly, and more importantly, it’s about trying to make a positive difference to the lives of HER2+ breast cancer battlers and their families in New Zealand.
BCAC is proud to be supporting this event.
'The Herceptin Peaceful Protest Ride will travel around the North Island, gathering up motorcycle riders along the way - female and male - who wish to make a visual, audible commitment to change the government's stance on this issue,' says organiser Maxine Cook. 'The ride is scheduled to start in Wellington on Wednesday 6th March 2008, riding around the North Island, and ending a week later at The Beehive where, with any luck, there will be sufficient number of machines to be noisy enough to make it a little difficult for politicians to ignore the wishes of the people of New Zealand who want this treatment fully funded for our women who need and deserve it.'
Nelson resident Maxine (pictured) believes strongly that New Zealand women should receive the same 52 weeks treatment of Herceptin that 24 other OECD countries have made available for their women with early stage HER2 positive breast cancer. 'As a consequence (of PHARMAC's decision to fund only 9 weeks Herceptin), a lot of individual groups out here, up and down the country, have rallied to raise funds within their local communities for their local women who need the treatment,' says Maxine.' Public humanitarianism and goodwill is an awesome thing, and many who have taken part in it have seen the mountains move because of it. But while it is an amazing thing to be a part of, it is not the right answer to the issue. The right answer is government funding so people in the community do not have to assume responsibility and undertake huge fundraising initiatives to try and provide that which women should rightfully be entitled to as a matter of public health.'
Entrants for this event can register by January 31st 2008 
with a $50.00 non-refundable registration fee. In addition, entrants will need to raise a further $950.00 per motorcycle, to cover the cost of their own ride. More specific details, and dowloadable registration forms are available on Max's Herceptin Riders website. The organiser of the Herceptin Peaceful Protest Ride is Maxine Cook. She lives in Nelson with her partner, several much-loved pets, two trucks, one classic car and six motorcycles. She has been a motorcyclist for 32 years and has recently returned from a two-month solo coast to coast trip across North America on her own motorcycle.
The details of that trip can be found on blogspot
