Walking the Talk for Fostering Families

2nd December 2015

Walking the Talk for Fostering Families

Gareth arrived in Auckland two days ago and has now been walking for a month! What started as a personal challenge for 24 year old Gareth Owston-Doyle swiftly morphed into doing something good for others. on Sunday 1 November 2015 Gareth, took his first steps on what will be the biggest challenge of his life – walking the length of New Zealand to raise funds for Fostering Kids New Zealand. Starting at the northern end of the 3000km Te Araroa Trail in Cape Reinga, Gareth hopes to finish at Bluff towards the end of April 2016. Please donate www.givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/only3000kmstogo/

Inspired by the great work that foster families do to help children in care, Gareth quickly made up his mind to raise funds for Fostering Kids New Zealand, a not for profit national charitable organisation that provides advocacy, support and specialised training for foster families who care for some of this country’s most vulnerable children.

“I have watched a special family raising three foster children and have seen for myself what an incredible difference they make to those children’s lives and how important the support they receive is,” says Gareth. “Fostering Kids New Zealand does an amazing job of supporting foster families and the children they are nurturing.”

Linda Surtees, CEO of Fostering Kids New Zealand says “Thousands of ordinary people are doing an extraordinary job of raising children in care throughout New Zealand. Foster parents are hugely influential in helping to shape a New Zealand where children and young people grow up in families that are free from abuse, neglect, violence, and offending. We are immensely grateful to Gareth, not just for the funds he’s raising but for shining a positive light on foster parents and the huge part they play in turning around young lives.”

Had anyone told Gareth two years ago that one day he would be spending endless days walking the length of New Zealand he would have scoffed at the thought of it, it’s a far cry from his mechanical engineer job at Fulton Hogan.

“I didn’t think I’d be up to the challenge and I’m sure there’ll be lots of obstacles along the way. I know they’ll pale into insignificance compared to the multiple challenges and obstacles that children in care have to overcome in their lives. I’m thrilled to support foster parents and I hope to inspire a few of these children and young people too.” Track Gareth’s epic journey on Facebook, www.facebook.com/only3000kmstogo; please donate at www.givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/only3000kmstogo/
ENDS

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