Industry News
It appears there’s no stopping this eight-year-old New Zealander when it comes to cancer and skiing. In fact, Lochie Win is about to launch his next quest to raise funds and increase cancer awareness. This time he’s planned a 12-hour endurance race at Coronet Peak Ski Resort, home to New Zealand’s premier night skiing.
Lochie’s journey began several years ago when he was just four years old. On Valentine’s day in 2018, his mom Rebecca was diagnosed with a rare form of adrenal cancer. Over the course of the next 12 months this small family of three, Luke, Rebecca, and Lochie managed to survive what seemed like endless doctors’ visits and hospital stays. Luke recalls that period explaining to a news reporter, “It’s pretty hard for me to talk about it now. When Lochie was about five, we found out Rebecca had cancer. I thought our world as we knew it was over as a family.” Reflecting on the experience in another interview Luke shares, “cancer can affect anyone at any time and the support that the Cancer Society has offered us as a family has been amazing. They were there from day one all the way through. They were a godsend and are still in many ways to our family.”
Then in 2020, with mom doing better and in remission, Luke and Lochie bought season passes for Cardona Alpine Resort. They thought it would be fun to try to ski 40 days that season to commemorate Cardona’s 40th birthday. After COVID delayed the season start and jeopardized their mission to bag 40 ski days, Lochie found himself chatting with a store owner in Queensland. The store owner quickly recognized the young boy’s interest in skiing and asked him about it to which Lochie replied,
“Five days? No, I’m going for 40 days for Cardona’s 40th birthday!” So impressed with the boys’ enthusiasm for the sport, the owner responded, “If you do that, make sure you come to visit me at my shop, and I’ll have a hoodie made for you.”
And from this serendipitous exchange, Lochie’s plan grew as he and his dad decided to make their 40 skis days a fundraiser for TCS. In the end, they raised more than $10,000 NZD with their kind efforts.
Carrying their momentum forward, Luke and Lochie looked to repeat their efforts in 2021, this time with even higher expectations. Lochie came up with another plan to try to ski all of New Zealand’s ski fields in an effort to show others that despite our busy daily lives we can still make time to do something for others. This time around Lochie bagged another $17,000 NZD for TCS.
Luke commented on the trip saying to a news reporter, “We will be doing it the good old-fashioned kiwi way and camping out in our caravan.” And to no one’s surprise (except maybe Luke’s) he admits in another interview,
“After a while, people around the country began to hear what Lochie was trying to get done. We were made to feel like part of their family in each field we would visit. It was awesome and allowed Lochie and me to improve our skiing sills immensely.”
The Win family firmly believes TCS has been instrumental in their care and it appears TCS shares similar feelings. Speaking about the Win family on their website TCS chief executive Rachael Hart had this to say, “Lochie is our superstar fundraiser. Not only is Lochie raising vital funds to support people with cancer, but he is building awareness on how the Cancer Society can support people facing a cancer diagnosis like his mum.”
This year’s fundraising challenge to support TCS will undoubtedly be no different. On August 5, 2022, and assisted by the New Zealand Ski Coronet Peak Team, Lochie will hold an extraordinary 12-hour endurance Ski/Board Challenge at Coronet Peak. Luke, Lochie, and his family of friends will all gather together and slide from 8 am to 8 pm to help raise funds and battle cancer. Prizes will be awarded for best dressed, most vertical traveled, and most funds raised.
Great job Lochie! We wish you, your wonderful family, and the rest of the participants the best of luck!! We look forward to hearing what you may have in store for us in the future!
