Westmere Kids ‘Try’ To Raise Funds For Guide Dogs

Media Release

12 November 2012

Westmere Kids ‘Try’ To Raise Funds For Guide Dogs

Children and parents from six Western Bays schools in Auckland will take part in this year’s Westmere Kids Try, which will help support the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) Guide Dog Services.

This is the third year Westmere School has run the triathlon event, which last year raised more than $20,000, including around $2000 for earthquake-damaged South New Brighton School in Christchurch.

This year the event has been opened to entrants from Richmond Road Primary School, Bayfield Primary School and Ponsonby Primary School, joining last year’s participants from Grey Lynn School, Marist Catholic School Herne Bay and Westmere School.

850 people are expected to participate in the fun event which will be held at Cox’s Bay Park, Westmere, on November 25.

The children have to complete a run (from 500m-1.5km depending on their age), bike ride (1-2km) and 50m water slide. Parents can also take part in a team event together with their children.

As well as raising money for the RNZFB Guide Dog Services, the money raised from this year’s event will go toward the completion of the new Westmere School hall.

Commentary for the day will be provided by radio hosts Jay-Jay Feeney and Dom Harvey from The Edge.

Also on site will be Olympic BMX silver medalist Sarah Walker as this year’s ‘bike champion’. Sarah will ride around the bike course motivating the participants and giving them support as they complete the bike ride. The waterslide champion will be Olympic silver medalist, yachtsman Blair Tuke.

The triathlon’s platinum sponsor is Bayleys Real Estate. Bayleys Auckland Central residential manager Rachel Dovey said she was delighted Bayleys had been able to support the event over the past two years, and to see how much enjoyment children and their parents got out of the day.

“We are extremely pleased to support an event that not only promotes the health and wellbeing of children, but that also can contribute to raising funds that will benefit their education,” she said.

“As principal sponsor of the RNZFB Guide Dog Services, we are extremely pleased that 10 per cent of the money raised in this year’s Westmere Kids Try will go towards supporting this worthy cause.”

RNZFB supporter relationships executive Louise Bedwell said: “RNZFB is very appreciative of all the hard work and fantastic fundraising efforts that Bayleys have led over the years.

“It's through the fantastic support of Bayleys and initiatives such as the Westmere Kids Try that RNZFB are able to breed and train life changing guide dogs for New Zealanders that are blind or have low vision."

Westmere School principal Carolyn Marino said it was heartening to see how much the Western Bays community had got behind the event since it was launched in 2010, and was pleased to be able to extend the entrance to a further three schools this year.

“Our focus has been on creating an event that children of all ages can participate in and enjoy, as well as promoting health and fitness in a supportive community environment,” she said.

“We hope that by participating in the Westmere Kids Try, these children will have the confidence to get involved in other sporting competitions such as the Weetbix Tryathlon Series.

“It is also a great opportunity for us to raise money towards both improving facilities for our students and also to support causes such as the RNZFB’s Guide Dog Services.”

The Gold sponsors of the Try are Charlie’s, Ripe, Equico, BISSELL and Bike Barn.

www.westmerekidstry.co.nz

ENDS

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