‘Lives changed forever’: Fundraiser to replace boys’ wrecked bikes after Epsom crash

Author: Cherie Howie,
Publish Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2026, 2:28pm

A fundraiser to buy new bikes for the teenage schoolboys caught up in an alleged rush-hour rampage through an upmarket Auckland suburb has reached its $8000 target in 24 hours.

Five Auckland Grammar students were on a training ride in Epsom just after 7am last Wednesday when they were allegedly struck from behind by a vehicle, with one boy tossed into the air and left lying motionless on the ground with critical injuries in an incident Auckland’s top cop would later describe as a “life-altering event”.

His current condition isn’t known, but he remained in a critical condition on Friday.

Two other boys also needed hospital treatment for serious and moderate injuries, with the remaining two cyclists treated by ambulance officers at the scene near the Campbell fountain and statue on Manukau Rd.

Police were pictured scooping up mangled and broken bikes after the incident. It followed a man allegedly attacking a female jogger, stealing a Good Samaritan’s car and smashing into vehicles 250m north and was then allegedly followed by the attempted theft of two vehicles 250m south at Tasman Epsom petrol station and the killing of a dog.

“Lives changed forever”, wrote Ride Holidays owner and Auckland Grammar cycling team parent coach Karl Woolcott on a Givealittle page raising money to replace the teens’ damaged bikes.

Police pictured at the scene where schoolboy cyclists were caught up in a series of alleged violent incidents on Manukau Rd in Epsom last Wednesday. Photo / Michael Craig

The fundraiser was on a Givealittle page for Te Awakairangi Access (Taka) Trust, a charity providing access to sports, technology, cultural events and the arts to kids who might otherwise miss out.

Ride Holidays works with the trust, with the partnership having already provided more than 1700 bikes to about 60 schools across the country, according to the Givealittle page.

Woolcott declined to comment when contacted by the Herald but wrote on the Givealittle page that replacing the bikes wrecked last week was “our next mission”.

“A small part on the long road to recovery.”

Giant Bikes New Zealand had offered to “help us with a very generous package”, with each of the three bikes needing to be replaced costing around $4000 each, Woolcott wrote.

“Ride Holidays will donate $4000. That means we’re relying on the RH whānau to help us with the other $8000.

“Big or small. It all helps. Let’s get the boys rolling again.”

However, 24 hours after the fundraiser began it had reached its target.

“Thank you,” Woolcott wrote on the Givealittle page this morning.

“We have reached our target to replace the broken bikes. We appreciate your support.”

Ride Holidays owner Karl Woolcott is an Auckland Grammar cycling team parent coach and was involved in a fundraiser to replace the damaged bikes of three schoolboys caught up in an alleged rush-hour rampage by a man in Epsom last week.

They didn’t need any more donations, he wrote.

“Our goal was simply to replace those bikes which was achieved within 24 hours. Ride Holidays and the Taka Trust will now revert back to providing bikes for New Zealand’s low decile schools.

“As we have been doing for the past decade.”

A man is facing 17 charges following last week’s incident in Epsom, including cruelty/ill treatment to an animal, aggravated assault and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The 49-year-old, who has interim name suppression, has not yet met with his lawyer and was remanded to reappear in court next month.