Charity Run
From a concept created by CPL (now SGT) Ian Richards, the idea of a charity relay run from RNZAF Base Whenuapai to RNZAF Base Ohakea seemed a long shot way back in February 2007.
Image right: Charity relay run - CPL Damien Lea runs through Taupo. OH-07-0784-04-tn.jpg.
After several meetings and plenty of coercing, volunteers from Maintenance Support Squadron (MSS) at Ohakea were split into runners and supporters. Support also came from Command and CAF. The ‘Make-A-Wish Foundation’ was selected as the charity for the event. The foundation grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses between the ages of 3-18.
Leading up to the event, the 14 runners were given fitness and endurance opportunities that included the Tangimoana Half marathon, a 24 hour run on Base, an 8 hour treadmill fundraising event at Bunnings in Palmerston North and other training runs.
The support crew sifted through the requirements for the runners and came up with a plan to support them continuously throughout the 540 km journey over the estimated 54 hours.
Bundled into vans, all runners and supporters travelled from Ohakea to Whenuapai on Monday 19 November 2007. The following day, rations were picked up and everyone, including COMWG, WGCDR Al Jenkinson, readied themselves at the Whenuapai main gate for the start of the run. On a beautiful Auckland November day, children, supporters and the President of the ‘Make-A-Wish Foundation’, Gilli Sinclair, were present to be the starters for the run. At 0900 hrs on the collective ‘GO’ from the children, AC Dave Page sprinted away, heading south towards Henderson followed by the pilot vehicle.
Image left: Maintenance Support Squadron Make-A-Wish foundation charity relay run from Whenuapai to Ohakea. OH-07-0784-20-fw.jpg.
With the runners covering 5 km each, it was not long (7 hours) until the run emerged from the Auckland suburbs of Henderson, Mt Albert, Onehunga, Mangere, Papakura and Drury onto the Waikato expressway and down State Highway 1. School children greeted LAC Matt Calder (an old boy of Drury School) at Drury, an exciting and memorable moment for all.
As night time loomed, some runners and supporters dossed down to get a few hours sleep in Hamilton at the Army Hall right next to the railway lines. The evening meal went down a treat thanks to the superb efforts of GSH Una Baillie, Mr Paul Martin and LAC Larissa Cottrell.
Throughout the night the runners rotated their teams of 7/8 with the support teams also rotating shifts. They passed through the Waikato towns of Tirau, Putaruru and on to Tokoroa for breakfast. With the awesome weather still providing the lift needed to keep on running, the lack of sleep was beginning to show on some. Truckies tooted and passed with care giving a boost to the teams. Taupo was the next major point with public relations, recruiting personnel and an Iroquois parked at the Northcroft Reserve to support and collect money for the ‘Make-A-Wish Foundation’ and to raise the RNZAF’s profile. As CPL Damien Lea handed the baton over to LAC Emma Hackett (the team’s medic) a huge cheer went up.
On down the lake edge to Turangi where some runners and support team members caught a few hours sleep at the Base holiday home before their next shift. The pace was looking good and the predicted time to Ohakea was looking to be less than expected.
Waiouru was the next port of call with another hearty evening meal provided and an awesome night sky forming. Trucking on down SH1 towards Ohakea, the runners were feeling the strain of limited sleep and physical tiredness. Under the moonlit night, the pain of running seemed to ease with some runners producing their best times in the calm and cool conditions. Down the long straights heading south, Vinegar Hill became another place to put the head down for some under the stars albeit, again, only for a short time.
Image right: Charity run - Maintenance Support Squadron. WN-08-0052-01-tn.jpg.
The end was in sight as daylight rose on the Thursday. It was looking like we would be well inside the original 54 hours. As AC Jono Johnston took the baton for the final time, all others, except the crew in the pilot vehicle, lined up at the Base Ohakea entrance road. All runners, support personnel and vehicles travelled the last 500 metres to the Ohakea main gate with Jono finishing the run at 0705 hrs. Well ahead of schedule.
Total time from Whenuapai to Ohakea was 46 hours and 4 minutes. An awesome achievement by all and it certainly took people out of their comfort zone. Thanks to Ian Richards for the idea and the drive to make it all happen.
To date, the total amount raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation is approximately $6000. Any further donations can be made to the foundation at 0900 I WISH.
A huge thank-you must go to all who assisted prior to and along the way including 3 Squadron, the Army at Hamilton, catering staff at Ohakea and Whenuapai, Accident and Compensation Commission (ACC), Fabric Bay, Manawatu Triathlon Club, Gary Anderson (endurance cyclist) and many others.
Another huge thank-you must go to all the Sponsors who gave goods and donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation prior to, and during the event. These included Blackwoods Paykel, Bunnings, Mobil Bulls, Spandex, Cycle Sport NZ, Crank It, BP Bulls, Subway Bulls, Palmerston North City Council, ANZ Marton, Cadburys, McVerry Crawford, The Warehouse, Dejavu Hair by Design, Scooter Café Hamilton, Kiwi Bacon, Yoplait, Speirs Foods and many others.