19 November, 2007

Whenuapai To Ohakea Charity Relay

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Keeping fit and active is part of life in the Air Force; the challenge is finding different ways to maintain and improve upon it. Staff at Ohakea’s Maintenance Support Squadron have found a way and will challenge themselves to run non-stop from Whenuapai to Ohakea. But the run is not only about fitness. It is about team and community spirit and raising funds for Make-A-Wish® New Zealand.

"We, as a team, have confidence in completing the run and hope that with public support we raise enough money to change the lives of more than one child. The run is more of a mental challenge than a physical one. Believing in your chosen charity is the difference between an event like this working or not," says Sergeant Ian Richards Before leaving the Royal Air Force to join the RNZAF, Ian raised money through solo walks and other events for several charity groups in the UK.

On arrival in New Zealand he was keen to continue doing this especially where it can make a visible difference to a child’s life. The runners will start from the Whenuapai Air Base at 9:00am on Tuesday 20 November and plan to reach Ohakea 54 hours later on 22 November.

Each runner will complete 5km before passing the baton to the next runner. Runners will complete around 40km each in the 54 hour period. RNZAF Recruiters, supported by a RNZAF 3 Sqn Iroquois helicopter, will be on hand in Taupo on Wednesday 21 November between 11:00am – 3:00pm to add their support to the cause.

As a preliminary to the run, team members will be warming up on a treadmill at Bunnings Warehouse in Palmerston North from 9:30am on Saturday 17 November. Make-A-Wish® New Zealand was launched in 1987. The charitable trust strives to grant the one cherished wish of each eligible child with a life-threatening illness who has reached the age of 3 years and is under the age of 18.

Run route and anticipated times:

Route Anticipated Times

RNZAF Whenuapai main gate to:
Trig Road
Don Buck Road
Hobsonville Road
Triangle Road- Henderson
North Western Cycle way
Carrington Road
Mt Albert Road
Old Mangere Bridge Road
Favona Road
Robertson Road
Massey Road - Mangere
Buckland Road
Portage Road
Station Road- Papatoetoe
St George Road
Carruth Road
Lambie Road - Manukau
Cavendish Road
Great South Road thru
Takanini
Papakura
& Drury to
Collision Crossroads at Bombay onto the
Waikato Expressway to Hamilton
Follow SH 1 to
Tokoroa to
Taupo to
Turangi to
Waiouru
Taihape
Mangaweka to
Bulls and
finish at the Main Gate of RNZAF Base Ohakea.
Tues 20 Nov 07
0900 Leave Whenuapai
1000 Lincoln - onto NW cycleway

1100 Carrington Rd

1200 Old Mangere bridge

1300 Papatotoe

1400 Takanini

1500 Drury
1600 Collision Corner Crossroads
2100 Huntly Wed 21 Nov
0000 Hamilton
0200 Cambridge
0600 Putaruru
0900 Tokoroa
1300 Taupo
1800 Turangi

Thurs 22 Nov
0000 Waiouru
0300 Taihape
0800 Mangaweka
1400 Ohakea

ENDS

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