CLIMBING FOR CAM | Bikesportnz

Auckland’s Lily Buttrick is a woman on a mission.

She is planning to climb one of the most daunting mountains in the world, Kilimanjaro, to raise funds for the Cameron Jones Trust.

The 19-year-old Jones (pictured above, left), of Christchurch, died as a result of injuries suffered while racing at round two of this season’s New Zealand Superbike Championships in Timaru on January 15.

The former national 125GP champion – New Zealand’s youngest ever road-race champion when he won the title in 2008 – crashed his 600cc superstock bike at Levels Raceway during the warm-up lap before the day’s first 600cc race at the track.

He was taken from the track to the Timaru Hospital intensive care unit and later airlifted to Christchurch Hospital, where he remained under constant watch until passing away peacefully in February, exactly 26 days after his accident at Levels Raceway

The Cameron Jones Trust is a fund for injured NZ road racers and their families.

While Cameron lay injured in hospital, a trust was set up in his name after many people wanted to support Cam and his family.

Since Cam’s passing, ‘The Cameron Jones Trust’ has now become a fund for injured NZ road racers and their families and is still encouraging donations more than ever.

Buttrick (pictured right) explains her motivation and the massive mission she has set herself.

“Before my dad died in 2000 I promised him that I would climb Kilimanjaro to raise fund for the MacMillan Cancer nurses in the UK,” said Buttrick.

“Life has been busy since then and I always wanted to climb the mountain before I hit the big 40 which is in just under two years.

“Well when I heard how serious Cameron (Jones) was injured this just seemed to be the spur I needed to kick my butt into gear. I really wanted to help Cameron and I thought that climbing Kili would be a great way to raise funds to benefit his rehab.

“It would also be very fitting for both him and my dad; both of them were crazy mad for bikes and racing (as I am). Cameron was a man who was loved by so many people for being down to earth, helping others even if a rival competitors, cheeky and a genuinely good sport and so the fund raising event to raise money for him needed to be something seriously significant to reflect the person he was.

“At the moment I am training as much as possible as this is going to be a very physically and mentally challenging adventure. I am either in the gym or out hiking in the Waitakere Ranges and I am intending to head to do the Tongariro Crossing in May as a gauge of how my training is going.

Luckily people have been very kind in giving monetary support, donating items: Craig Shirriffs’ race leathers, 4 pieces of art work, a patchwork quilt, graphic design time and Life is a Bike books. All donated item will be on Trademe. I have created a website http://www.climbforcam.com/ where people can find bank details to donate or can donate by paypal from overseas.

Thankfully Mike Cosgrove, who has climbed Kili himself, has loaned me most of the equipment I will need for this expedition. One of my best friends in the US has donated supplements to help me with my training. People have really come to the plate to assist with helping to commemorate Cam’s life and to help to create something beneficial from such a tragic loss of life.

The trip is being completely funded by myself so that all the money can go directly to the Cameron Jones Trust which is a fund for injured NZ road racers and their families.

All traded items will be sold through Valentine Books on Trademe (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Valentine-Books-for-Book-Lovers/145683055469181)

The Kilimanjaro itinerary is:

16 July 2012 Monday 2 M1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp Camp FB

17 July 2012 Tuesday 3 M2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp Camp FB

18 July 2012 Wednesday 4 M3: Shira Camp via Lava Tower to Barranco Camp FB

19 July 2012 Thursday 5 M4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp Camp FB

20 July 2012 Friday 6 M5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp Camp FB

21 July 2012 Saturday 7 M6: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp Camp FB

22 July 2012 Sunday 8 M7: Mweka Camp to hotel Sal Salinero B&B