Bryce Mackenzie has always found meaning in the outdoors — especially when it’s shared with family. But after an MS diagnosis, years of relapses and setbacks left him disconnected from the active life he once loved. Through the Mastering Mountains Programme, Bryce set himself a powerful goal: completing a 160km cycle around Lake Taupō. With wraparound support and a committed crew beside him, he proved to himself that hope can be rebuilt — one pedal stroke at a time.

Ten years ago, Sue became the first person to ever receive a Mastering Mountains grant. When she first heard about the grant, she paused - the idea of applying was an avenue to something more, but it also seemed daunting. “What if I get it and fail?” she wondered. This initial hesitation was overcome by a deeper resolve that surfaced within her: I have to try.

Raffaela, who has FND and Parkinsons, learned that she gets to write her own narrative. Despite life-altering diagnoses that significantly diminished her sense of personal agency, Raffaela refused to give up and instead forged a new path, one of her choosing. “You get to rewrite your story,” she says. “Mine used to be about loss and limitation. Now, it’s about strength. Now, it’s about possibility.”

Fresh back from Milford Track, Steph knows she can’t predict the future, but she no longer sees that as something to fear. “I’ve learned to embrace uncertainty with a sense of adventure,” she says. “The future feels exciting again.”

Duncan completed his mission with friends in April 2025, swimming from Umupuia to Maraetai. “I finished it tired,” he said, “with legs that didn't want to walk me out of the water.” Duncan jokes, “Mine’s probably been the longest Mastering Mountains mission to take place.”