Pedal for Prevention: ‘Ride for Talei 2025’ Stops in Hamilton Uniting Whānau for Health and Hope

This Wednesday 19 February, Te Kōhao Health will welcome cyclists participating in The Ride for Talei 2025 at Taakiri Tuu Wellness and Diagnostic Centre in Enderley Hamilton.

This event will bring together whānau for a day of empowerment, education, and essential health services.

The day holds great significance as it unites two powerful health awareness campaigns—Smear Your Mea and Prick4Prostate — in a shared mission to encourage early detection and lifesaving action.

“Nau mai, haere mai ki Taakiri Tuu. We are counting down to welcoming the ‘Ride for Talei’ because this kaupapa is a lifesaver. Too often, our whānau aren’t diagnosed early enough,” said Lady Tureiti Moxon, the Managing
Director of Te Kōhao Health, Patron of the Breast Cancer Research Trust and a breast cancer survivor herself.

Cyclists are riding from Tāmaki Makaurau through Kirikiriroa on their way to Taranaki to Te Matatini, upholding the legacy of the late Talei Morrison, who launched ‘Smear Your Mea’ in 2017 before passing away from cervical
cancer.

The ride will also honour Dr Te Ururoa Flavell, who has been courageously battling Stage 4 prostate cancer.

Through his social media platform, Te Ururoa Flavell - Living with my Mate, he has shared his raw and heartfelt journey, inspiring countless tāne and wāhine to prioritise their health.

The ride reinforces the importance of accessible healthcare and continuing the kaupapa Talei started.

The urgency for action is clear—cancer continues to take a devastating toll on Māori communities:
In Waikato District in 2023:

• Only 52.8% of eligible Māori women aged 45 to 69 had a breast cancer screening in the past two years,
compared to 61.6% of non-Māori.
• Cervical screening rates were 56.9% for eligible Māori women, compared to 67.8% for non-Māori.
• Only 47.6% of Māori aged 25 to 29 were up to date with cervical screening, compared to 54.9% of non
Māori.
• On average, 161 Māori die from cancer each year in Waikato District.
• Māori are twice as likely as non-Māori to die from cancer.

To combat these disparities, the event will also offer free health services and activities, ensuring whānau have access to vital screenings and support, including:

• Cervical screening
• Breast screening
• Bowel screening
• Prick4Prostate checks
• Auaahi Kore (Smokefree) cessation support
• Free health checks
• Workshops and giveaways
• Free kai
• Hauraki PHO support services

Together, these campaigns send a powerful message: early detection saves lives. The 2025 Ride for Talei is more than an event—it’s a movement to ensure no one fights cancer alone.