A King Constantine Medal Story – Sam Livingston, Whanganui Collegiate School, New Zealand

King Constantine Medal 2025: Sam Livingston, Whanganui Collegiate School, New Zealand.

After watching reports of the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, Sam, a student from Whanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand, embarked on what he describes as the “best and stupidest thing” he has ever done: a 10-hour scooter ride raising thousands for charity, for which the school awarded him its King Constantine Medal. Sam shares his adventure:

When I first signed up for the scooter ride from Napier to Wellington, I honestly thought it was going to be one of the best and stupidest things I had ever done. A couple of years ago, if someone had told me I would be riding a 50cc scooter for 10 hours straight down State Highway 2, I would have called them crazy. But the reason behind it was simple: I wanted to help raise money for people who really needed it.

Two causes in particular stuck out to me—Mike King’s “I Am Hope” foundation and the Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up funds. Coming off a farm myself, I had seen the devastation caused by the cyclone up close. My grandfather’s brother and his wife, both in their eighties and not very mobile, were trapped in their home when the Tutaekuri River burst its stop banks. The water came straight through their house, and they had nowhere to go. Watching the videos of what they went through was scary, and it made me realise that if I had the chance to do something to help, I should.

So, when my uncle, my dad and I heard about the scooter event, we signed up. The goal was to raise some cash for people who needed it while also having a bit of fun along the way. We did not just buy a second-hand scooter and turn up on the day—it took weeks of preparation, fundraising, and organising behind the scenes just to get to the start line.

The ride itself was brutal at times. We started at 6:30 in the morning in Napier. The roads were still slick, and there were a few casualties before we even left the city. There were moments when I felt like pulling over and calling it quits, but that would have been too easy. Being a big motorsport fan helped me get through—I treated it like a race, keeping my focus on the road and picking off riders in front of me, one at a time. Even though it was not a race, thinking about it that way kept me distracted from the constant stream of traffic flying past us all day.

What really carried me through, though, was the support. Every town we rode into had people lining the streets, waving and cheering us on. Sometimes even on the side of the highway there were groups with signs and horns. It was pretty special to see that what we were doing mattered not just to us, but to the wider community as well.

At Whanganui Collegiate, my housemates and fellow Year 13s followed the ride closely, sending messages and updates. Teachers and students alike questioned my decision to do something this mad, but they also backed me all the way, donating money and encouraging me to stick it out. It was not just me on that scooter—it felt like the whole school was along for the ride.

By the end, our team had raised $10,800. That amount was well above what I had expected and made all the effort worth it. Covering our own costs, preparing the scooters, and putting in the hours behind the scenes paid off when we saw what had been achieved. To ride into towns and see people smiling, knowing they were behind us, was something I will never forget.

That is why receiving the King Constantine Medal came as such a surprise at prizegiving. Plenty of people had raised serious amounts for charity throughout the year, so to be singled out was pretty special. To me, the medal is not just a recognition of my effort, but of the support from my family, my school, my friends, and the communities who donated and cheered us along the way.

Now I am at Lincoln University in the South Island, and I have already heard about another scooter challenge—this time from Christchurch to Hokitika. I think it is only a matter of time before I give that a go too.

Looking back, the scooter ride was both ridiculous and amazing. It pushed me far out of my comfort zone, but it also showed me what can happen when people come together for a good cause. Every cent we raised went to helping someone else have a better day, week, or month, and that is something I will always be proud of.

If anyone reading this ever gets the chance to take on a challenge like this, I would say go for it. You never know the impact you might have, and I promise it is worth it.

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