In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand In Gear - Issue 3 | Page 66

On your marks,
get set ... fun!
Thirty years down the road, and there’s
no letting up for those fleet-footed folk
who turn out to the Rotary Club of Timaru
North’s hugely successful annual Hadlow
to Harbour run-walk event.
Like last year, the “H2H”, which has grown to be one of
the major drawcards on the South Canterbury event
calendar, drew an impressive crowd of more than 1200
for the big day on March 5, says its assistant convenor,
Rotarian Noel Crawford.
“We had all ages, from around five to people into their
70s – and, that’s if you don’t count babies and toddlers
who were carried or wheeled in pushchairs. We even
had one prizewinning mum who actually managed to
do both,” he says.
Participants can run or opt to walk, with two options:
a 10km trek from Hadlow, in the countryside, to the
Port of Timaru’s Caroline Bay, or a shorter, city-based
3km course. And, every year, the H2H proves to be the
ultimate ‘fun run’.
“The speedster placegetters who cross the line first
get the honour, the glory … and nothing else,” Noel
explains.
“In the spirit of the event, the array of amazing prizes,
generously donated by local businesses, is awarded
either by random draw, or to the likes of the wearer of
the craziest outfit – of which there are many. There are
also special treats for the likes of the elderly and the ill
who have pushed through their challenges to take part.
There are prizes, too, for school and sports groups.”
Major sponsors and businesses which donated key
prizes included: South Canterbury District Health
Board, Holcim Cement, PrimePort, McCain Foods,
Air Safaris, Sport Canterbury and Movie Max. South
Canterbury businesses also rallied to provide a wealth
of practical help: Fulton Hogan, Ritchies Coachlines, the
Timaru Herald, Port F.M., Timaru Signs, McDonalds and
Waipopo Orchards.
That support, together with participants’ entry fees,
meant a healthy profit of $15,000, most of which will go
to five local charities: the Alzheimers Foundation, Heart
Foundation, Stroke Club, South Canterbury Hospice
and Life Education Trust.
The speedster
placegetters who
cross the line first get
the honour, the glory
… and nothing else.”
Noel Crawford,
Rotary Club of Timaru North
Leftover proceeds, Noel says, will be combined with
takings from the club’s Bookarama and go toward
numerous community initiatives, including Rotary
Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) and Rotary Youth
Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN), both of which are
aimed at high school students.
Funds would also go to community events backed by
the Rotary Club of Timaru North, such as Atarama,
which sees school students’ art work displayed at
Aigantighe Art gallery, and the ever-popular Carols by
Candlelight at Christmas.