The BMW Owners Register (BMWOR) is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the BMW GS and will be travelling from Cape Reinga to Bluff over 12 days, all the while raising money for charity.

The BMW GS Anniversary and Charity Ride is starting on 14 November and will reach Invercargill for the start of the Burt Munro Challenge on 24 November, before finishing in Bluff the next day. The aim of the trip is to take as many off-roads as possible to celebrate the dual-purpose of the GS model.

The charity they are raising money for is Westpac Rescue Helicopter, which, over the last 40 years of operation, has saved over 12,000 lives. The costs of running the helicopter for an hour can range from anywhere between $3,000 and $7,000, which is why public fundraising plays an important role in keeping it in the air.

Wanting to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BMW GS, ride organiser and BMWOR member, Justin Ryan, said the group had been organising the ride down to the Burt Munro Challenge earlier in the year and decided that if they’re going to spend two weeks riding the length of the country then they should use that opportunity to fundraise for charity.