Fun Run Goes Bush To Fight Climate Change

NEWS RELEASE
1 August 2007

Fun Run Goes Bush To Fight Climate Change

A unique event that combines fitness with native tree planting has been launched as a way of helping people to do their bit to fight climate change.

Event Director, Callum Anderson, said the Hubbards Carbon Crusade gives people the opportunity to walk or run 15km around an off-road course, and plant four native trees in designated planting areas.

Callum said the three events to be held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch over September and October would be the first of their kind.

“The Hubbards Carbon Crusade is all about giving people the chance to make a positive contribution towards the fight against climate change,” he said.

“Research shows that most people are aware of climate change issues and are keen to address their individual contribution to it. However, beyond recycling and turning lights off, many people simply aren’t aware of other practical options available to them.”

“By planting trees, participants will be able to simply and effectively offset their own carbon footprint.”

The three events will take place against the backdrop of spectacular scenery that most New Zealanders are usually unable to access.

The Auckland event will take place on 29 September at Pakiri Beach. The Wellington event will be held at Papanui Station on 6 October, while the Christchurch Carbon Crusade will be at Putiki Farm on 13 October.

Boomrock Lodge and Papanui Station owner, Jonny Eastwick, said he ‘jumped’ at the chance to support the Hubbards Carbon Crusade.

“Areas of Papanui Station were covered in Totara forests before the land was cleared for farming last century,” he said.

“As soon as I saw the concept, I loved it. It seemed right for us to go full circle and finally give back to the land the native trees that originally covered it.”

Callum said he is expecting a lot of public interest in the events and anticipates that over 16,000 native trees will be planted.

“We’ve already had widespread industry support for the event with Hubbard Foods signing on as principal sponsor.”

“Hubbards is a leader in business social responsibility and the Carbon Crusade meshes well with a number of the organisation’s core values including caring for the environment and supporting active lifestyles.”

Other organisations supporting the Carbon Crusade include Suzuki, Bank of New Zealand, MoreFM, Boomrock, Hirequip, AMP Capital and Grove Mill Wines which recently became the world’s first CarboNZero winery.

To find out more about the Hubbards Carbon Crusade and how to enter, visit www.carboncrusade.com.

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