A bike riding club based in Wellington called USO Bike Ride has been cycling across New Zealand and Samoa to promote health and well-being through cycling and raising cancer awareness. 

Founded by Alaiseuava Christopher Te'o and Tolifalu Talalelei, this year marks 10 years since their first Cancer Awareness Ride with the Samoa Cancer Society. 

The club is primarily made up of Pacific and Maori riders and the inception of the club was inspired after Alaiseuava participated in the Relay for Life Porirua in 2010.

Alaiseuava was also inspired to form the club following the passing of his father from pancreatic cancer. This is when the USO Bike Ride journey began.

In 2011, along with his brother-in-law Mark Lerwill, they cycled from Auckland to Wellington. 

“Much has happened in that time, we have lost loved ones to cancer, and of course, some in the group have also been impacted by cancer and other health conditions.” Tofilau Talalelei said.  

USO Bike Ride is a platform that aims to promote health and well-being in the Māori and Pasifika communities through cycling. The group is made up of people from different ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds, including those born in New Zealand as well as in other homelands. 

The riders come from various ethnicities such as Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, Tokelauan, Maori, and New Zealanders. The group also includes riders with disabilities. The USO Bike Ride community is diverse in terms of faiths, languages, and genders, and many people resonate with the cancer journey. 

"Family is the core of USO Bike Ride," Tofilau said. 

"Our men are encouraged to play a leading role in our own health and the health of our partners, wives and families.  Too often we leave it to the women. After originally focusing on men's health, the organisation has expanded to include all whanau with the slogan "Whanau united to improve health and wellbeing in communities through cycling" over its 11-year history."

This year, the Samoa Cancer Society welcomes the return of USO Bike Ride to Samoa to support efforts to raise cancer awareness and promote a healthy lifestyle through cycling. The team will first cycle around and along the way, we will deliver cancer awareness workshops with villages and visit families impacted by cancer. 

Samoa Cancer Society CEO Papalii Su’a John Ryan said they are ecstatic to have the USO Bike Riders back to Samoa. 

"Samoa Cancer Society is excited to welcome back to Samoa the Uso Bike Riders team," Su'a articulated.  

"USO Bike Ride have successfully conducted four previous bike rides, raising cancer awareness and promoting exercise as a lifestyle choice is so important for Samoa. This message is not just cancer-specific, but will also have an impact on all non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Samoa Cancer Society invites all of us to get behind this great imitative and if you can, grab a bike and put in some miles with us." 

The tour around both Savaii and Upolu runs from 16 to 24 of November. 

Alaiseuava said they are looking forward to supporting the messaging and work of Samoa Cancer Society to raise cancer awareness. 

"This is our way of serving and giving back to Samoa," he said.
"Thanks to the Samoa Cancer Society and Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development and associated villages for enabling this wonderful opportunity”.

"Some of the USO team members have had their own personal experience of cancer and all of the team members' families have been impacted by cancer and other illnesses."

The USO are currently riding through Savai’i and held their first Cancer Awareness Fono in Vaisala. On Monday they will be in Le Itu-o-Tane, returning to Upolu with 2 other Cancer Awareness Fono in Lalomanu.  

The USO acknowledges the collaborations of the communities and government entities who have supported the initiative. 

USO stands for understanding, strengthening and overcoming. 

"Understanding- Develop a thirst for and eagerness to know what to do and how to do it to improve your health and wellbeing. Know what causes our predicament and work hard to find better ways.

"Strengthening- Wrap around you the resources, friends and aiga to help you action your goals and Just do it. It's a journey-one step at a time. 

"Overcoming- By doing it one step at a time you will get there and develop a real passion for life and just doing it because it becomes a part of you."