Electric motorcycles tackling Remutaka Hill for Cancer fundraiser 

Three FTN Motion Streetdog electric motorcycles will climb the 555-metre high Remutaka Hill Road in the Cancer Society’s Capital 2 Country Scooter Safari fundraiser to support people through cancer treatment. 

On July 1, more than 60 scooters and mopeds will begin the journey at 8.30am leaving the city via Wellington’s waterfront before finishing their trip at Masterton’s Henley Park. 

FTN Motion has three riders in the Safari – two Streetdog owners and Jeff Fuller from Hamilton, who won the last spot on the endurance challenge. Fuller says he wants to give back to the Cancer Society, which has helped his family after his father was diagnosed with leukaemia at the start of 2022.

“His diagnosis saw our lives take an unexpected turn,” Fuller says. “There were intense rounds of treatment, and my parents had to quit their jobs to help him get better, resulting in massive changes. I’m an only child, and I felt like I couldn’t be there as often as I wanted – and this is where the Cancer Society stepped up.

“They supported us through everything, and it was the little things that mattered – rides to counselling and support services and a restful place for Dad to recover from treatment – they made sure we never felt alone,” he says.

Fuller hadn’t ridden a bike until he recently completed a two-month motorcycle challenge across Vietnam, which he says has helped him prepare to tackle the Remutaka ranges. 

“I’m up for anything and am looking forward to putting the Streetdog through its paces – my dad is always tinkering with his own e-bike, so now he’s back to decent health, I’m looking forward to giving him a chance to try out the Streetdog too,” he says.

FTN Motion will support the trio of riders with its own crew from the workshop, including Michel Roncara, FTN’s GM. Last year, they completed the Cancer Society’s Tranz Alpine Scooter Safari, which saw them travel 250 km in freezing conditions across the Southern Alps. 

“While it was a definite challenge last year, we had a blast taking the Streetdog on its first endurance ride, and given we’ve improved the motorcycle significantly since then, we’re looking forward to seeing how they respond tomorrow,” Roncara says. 

“This event is particularly special because it gives us a chance to use the Streetdogs as a force for good – and by having our support crew on hand, it means we can travel alongside our community members as they give back to an organisation that does so much for others,” he says. 

The Capital 2 Country Scooter Safari will commence from the Wellington Indian Association.