On Sunday June 8, Aucklanders will gather at Parrs Park in Glen Eden at 8am for “18,000 Steps for Gaza”—a walk/run event dedicated to honouring the 18,000 children estimated to have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Led by a collective of filmmakers, actors, sportspeople, and local community members, the initiative invites participants to complete 18,000 steps—each one symbolising a child’s life lost. The Givealittle page has already raised $5,000 toward its $18,000 goal for ReliefAid, a New Zealand-based humanitarian organisation providing critical support on the ground in Gaza.

A number of well-known New Zealanders have already pledged to participate, including actors Aidee Walker (Outrageous Fortune), Michelle Langstone (Westside), Dave Van Horn (Avatar), Dominic Ona Ariki (One Lane Bridge), Fleur Saville (Shortland Street), and Dimitrius Koloamatangi (Red, White & Brass) (remotely), as well as league legend Ruben Wiki, rapper Diggy Dupe, and filmmaker Nua Finau (Panthers). More names are expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

“18,000 is a crazy number,” says organiser and filmmaker Tom Hern (The Dark Horse). “When I sat with that, it really opened my heart. The average primary school roll in Aotearoa is around 160 students. That means 18,000 children is the equivalent of more than 100 schools of children being wiped out. Each one of those kids is someone’s son or daughter, or grandchild. I can only imagine the pure heartbreak for the families—if they survived themselves.

“This fundraiser, for me, isn’t really political. For many, that’s where their energy goes, and I respect that. But for me, this is simply a human response. As a father—and just as a person with any conscience—I couldn’t keep watching this extreme suffering and do nothing. So I reached out to my friends and asked for their help to raise crucial funds to support these innocent lives. It’s a small contribution. But it's something.”

Event Details
What: 18,000 Steps for Gaza (estimated 13.5km)
When: Sunday, June 8, 2025 — 7:30 AM Briefing, 8:00 AM Start
Where: Parrs Park, Glen Eden (Meet at the Playground)
Who: Open to all — run, walk, or move in your own way. No registration required.
Donate: 18,000 Steps for Gaza Givealittle

Participants are encouraged to bring a fitness tracker or phone to track their steps. For those without, steps will be estimated per lap. A hydration station will be available on-site.

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