Cate Davis is a familiar face to many Wanaka locals, having been a friendly face at New World since 2004, and now more and more people know her as the former “heart kid” soon to embark upon an adventure of a lifetime.  

Cate has lived all over southern New Zealand, and has spent 14 years in the UK during two long stints. Her career has also been varied: Cate went to secretarial school and has worked in libraries (including volunteering in Wanaka) and dental practices (both private and public). It was a summer job that eventually led to her long-term role at the local supermarket.

Cate’s early years in rural New Zealand (her father is a farmer) shaped her love for Central Otago and rural life.

“I loved growing up on a farm,” Cate said. “It was really good and when I left school I wanted to be on a farm but that didn’t quite happen. I still get a taste of it because I still have family that farms, and I still get to enjoy the country every so often.”

Rural life offers many of the same pleasures as farm life, and it’s something which drew Cate to Wanaka in 2004.

“There’s something special about being in Central Otago. My father grew up here and we got to know it over many years.”

Her family must feel the same way: Cate’s father and his wife now live in Pisa Moorings, and all of his siblings live in or around Wanaka; Cate’s brothers both live in the South Island.

“Family is one of the main reasons I love living in Wanaka,” Cate said, but the list of reasons she calls this small town home are numerous. “I love the place, the mountains, to be able to get outdoors and do things, walk and get out on the bike. It’s nice knowing your community and over the years I’ve got to know a lot of people here.”

Despite working full-time Cate makes time for her role as the Central Otago chairperson for Heart Kids New Zealand, a national organisation dedicated to helping people with congenital heart defects lead full lives.

Through Heart Kids, Cate has just begun training for the adventure of a lifetime: a ten-day cycling trip through Cambodia next May.

“The reason behind the trip is that people born with congenital heart defects have challenges every day - our challenge will be this cycling trip in Cambodia.”

‘Cycle For Heart Kids Cambodia’ is a fundraiser for the organisation, and the ten-day trip will involve cycling in and around Cambodian destinations like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Cate was a ‘heart kid’ herself, undergoing open heart surgery when four-years-old. Many children born with congenital heart defects have ongoing health issues and require multiple surgeries. “For me, I’ve never had to have another surgery,” Cate said.

Cate’s involvement with Heart Kids was serendipitous: While serving a customer at New World she saw that the person’s cheque book said ‘Heart Kids’ and asked about it. She quickly became involved with the organisation. She joined the local Heart Kids committee in 2006, later became the treasurer, and her role as the chairperson of the branch keeps her busy.

Cate will head to Cambodia as a part of a group of eight who are from all over New Zealand. Included in the team are a father and son, who are cycling for another member of their family; a Dad who is cycling for his three-month-old son; and a man whose mother has had heart surgery. Cate’s riding partner will be her Dad’s wife, who has decided to take on the challenge with her.

Each person going on the trip is asked to raise $4,000 to give back to the charity, and a quiz night held last week (September 13) helped Cate reach her fundraising goal.

She wants to thank everyone who showed up and gave for the cause. “I was absolutely blown away by how well we did,” Cate said. “It’s just amazing.”

The quiz night, which happened to fall on Cate’s birthday, was a reminder of the special connection between friends and strangers in Wanaka, and the relationships she’s built over the years. “It’s the community spirit that is special here.”

Cate’s feelings six months ahead of the adventure are a combination of excitement and nerves: as an experienced traveller, she’s looking forward to seeing a new country; at the same time she’s a little afraid of how the humidity in such a warm country will affect her.

There’s also the training, which has tentatively begun, but Cate says she’s not particularly sporty. “I’m going to have to start pushing myself now. I’m not a natural sportsperson at all, and very much a leisure skier and recreational cyclist; I like to enjoy things and see where I’m going.”

During the trip the group will cycle through rice paddy plantations; visit housing on stilts; see temples; and take a Cambodian cooking class. Excitement or nerves, it’s a worthwhile adventure to be a part of, Cate said. “We’re doing it for kids that really need it.”

PHOTO: Wanaka App