39th Kathmandu Coast to Coast
Radio Host and Olympic Kayaker Supporting Youth At This year’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast
Press Release / 30.01.2021
Popular radio host Dom Harvey admits he is a little scared, but raring to go for this year’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast. With the avid runner jumping at the chance to come on board as a support athlete for one of the Coast-to-Coast Rangers this year.
The Coast-to-Coast Rangers Programme is run through the Aspiring Youth Development Trust.
Jessy Moffatt, operations manager for the Rangers, reached out to Harvey a year ago after he completed five marathons in five days to raise money for a toddler needing specialist cancer treatment.
“I love listening to the show and just thought Dom would be a great fit with the kids. He was really keen to be involved, but unfortunately, he had another event on that weekend. He said to get in contact with him for the following year, so I did - he said yes straight away.”
Harvey says he loves running and if he can do something that he enjoys and help people at the same time it is an opportunity he won’t pass up. Despite having completed a number of marathons all over the world, he admits to a few nerves ahead of the iconic 30-kilometre mountain run over Goat Pass in the South Island’s Arthurs Pass National Park.
“I figure it’s going to be very tough and I’m going in completely blind. It would have been good to head down and do a reccy before the big day, but my schedule just wouldn’t allow for it. I’ll be watching a few YouTube videos of previous years, but that’s all the knowledge I’ll have.”
“I’m really looking forward to it though and getting to meet the young fella I’ll be doing it with. The Coast to Coast is such an iconic event and I’m happy to be a part of it - I’m so glad Jessy reached out.”
Harvey is not the only big name joining the Rangers ranks for the first time this year; former Olympian and world champion Kayaker Ben Fouhy has also come on board as a support athlete in the kayak.
Another athlete Moffatt is rapt to have helping out.
“Charles Nimmo had been working with the kids and supporting them with kayaking and then, unfortunately, he put his shoulder out. I was trying to think who we could get to replace him, and I had Bob McLachlan (legendary paddler) staying with us and he said why not ask Ben Fouhy,” Moffatt says.
Fouhy says despite the unfortunate circumstances which led to his opportunity he’s grateful for the chance to be involved and is looking forward to the challenge.
“Multisport was such a positive influence on my life when I was about the same age as these guys so it’s great for me to be able to work with them and hopefully provide some really positive experiences in the sport for them too.”
Even with more than 25 years of competing in multisport, ironman, and kayaking at world class levels, Fouhy says this will be a first for him too.
“It will be a new experience. I have been in a double kayak in an Olympic final, but I’ve never been down a river in a double, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Fouhy will paddle 70 kilometers of the Waimakiriri River from Mt White Bridge to Gorge Bridge in a tandem kayak.
Harvey and Fouhy will join fellow support athlete Steve Gurney who has been involved with the Rangers since the beginning.
The Coast-to-Coast Rangers have announced their final teams and line-ups for the event and Moffatt is quick to point out they couldn’t do it without the support they receive from their volunteers.
“The best part is that I didn’t have to convince any of them to work with us.”
“We are so privileged to have all three on board. They care and they are passionate, and they can get these kids from the start to the finish line exposing them to as many positive people and experiences as possible. At the end of the day that’s what we are all about,” Moffatt says.
Coast to Coast Rangers 2021 teams and support athletes.
Team Kathmandu
Mohammed Hassan - biker
Support athlete - Jessy Moffatt
Josh Mclean - runner
Support athlete - Jessy Moffatt
Kaden Reuben - kayaker
Support athlete - Ben Fouhy
Team Pak n Save Wainoni
Hamida Ghazizada - biker
Support athlete - Sophie Davies
Sophie Watson - kayaker
Support athlete - Steve Gurney
Miracle Te Waimaria - runner
Support athlete - Sophie Davies
Team ISport and Westpac
Orion Lynch - kayaker
Support athlete - Steve Moffatt.
Ivo Baguingey - runner
Support athlete - Dominic Harvey
Fane Ngauamo - biker
Support athlete - Matt Calman
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