The Rescue Warriors is a group of 12 blokes from mid Canterbury who are biking the length of New Zealand to raise money to support MISSION 2026, the modernisation and transformation of the rescue helicopter service across Canterbury and the West Coast.
Ahead of their ride in February 2026, we thought we’d catch up with each of the warriors to find out what’s inspired them to take on this challenge.
Bryan Beeston is hitting a milestone birthday next year. Before he gets there, he wants to do something for himself and his health.
Being a Rescue Warrior is it.
“The fact this challenge is also raising money for a charity that has helped my family in the past is the icing on the cake,” Bryan says.
Originally from England, Bryan came to New Zealand on a working holiday in 1976 and loved it. He moved here permanently in 1978, first dairy farming in South Auckland and Northland before moving to Canterbury in 1995.
“I started sharemilking and went from having 100 cows to 600 cows and then 2,000 cows …. I’ve been on a cow journey ever since!”
Today, Bryan is the “maintenance man” on his daughter and son-in-law’s dairy farm on the outskirts of Ashburton.
“I go down there and fill in my days so I don’t annoy my wife! At least I’m useful, I’d hate not to be useful,” Bryan says.
Bryan will be turning 70 just after the Rescue Warriors ride finishes. He started his biking journey ten years ago at the suggestion of his doctor. In the years that followed he has had both knees and hips replaced, with biking part of his pre and post surgery recovery plan.
Bryan has completed most of the bike trails around New Zealand and recently he and wife Annette spent two weeks biking around Sri Lanka.
“You’ve got to move it or you lose it!”
He’s progressed to an e-bike now and the knees and hips are holding up well.
“I’ve done a couple of 300-kilometre bike rides and it’s the bum that’s the biggest challenge.”
But Bryan says having the fellowship of the other Rescue Warrior riders makes all the difference.
“The team is brilliant. We all have different skills – we really complement each other.”
Bryan is proud to be raising money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, a service which picked up his daughter some years ago after her car was t-boned at an intersection near Mayfield.
“She came out of it OK; she was really lucky. It was great that the rescue helicopter was there for her that day.”
Bryan says the Rescue Warriors ride is a great chance to use their connections to raise funds for the service.
“I see the rescue helicopter flying overhead all the time. We are so lucky we have the rescue helicopter service; we never know when one of us might need it.”
Bryan’s wife, three daughters and nine grandchildren will all be cheering him on as he embarks on the 3,000 km ride. Annette is even helping him transport the e-bikes to the start line.
“We love travel, we love biking. This challenge ticks all the boxes!”
You can follow the Rescue Warriors on their incredible journey via their Facebook page.
Bryan is proud to be raising money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, a service which picked up his daughter some years ago after her car was t-boned at an intersection near Mayfield.
“She came out of it OK; she was really lucky. It was great that the rescue helicopter was there for her that day.”
