Santa’s Run for a Good Cause   29 Oct 2014

Santa’s Run for a Good Cause

On Wednesday, 3 December 2014 thousands of people dressed in Santa suits will take to the streets in Whangarei, Auckland North (Albany), Auckland West (Waitakere), Auckland Central (Viaduct), Auckland South (Manukau), Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Hastings*, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Palmerston North*, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, Dunedin, Invercargill for the ‘Great KidsCan Santa Run’.

People of all ages, dressed in full Santa regalia, will take part in the 2-3km fun run/walk which will benefit New Zealand children living in poverty. Last year’s event attracted over 4,000 participants and we’re hoping to increase the number of Santa’s to over 6,000 this year. The Meridian Santa Wranglers were a big hit last year, and will be back again to help manage all the wayward Santa’s.

A major fundraiser for KidsCan, the Santa Run concept is a simple fun run/walk with each entrant receiving a free Santa suit (13 years plus), Santa hat for those under 13 years and a voucher from The Athlete’s Foot as part of their entry fee. The courses are kept easy so everyone can finish and the running Santa’s being highly visible for maximum impact.

Shaun Collins from Lactic Turkey Events said “This is a great family event for people of all ages and levels of fitness. I am stoked to see the event grow into some more new venues throughout the country this year, making it a truly national event. The beauty of this event is there is no training is required as it’s all about the fun of donning a Santa suit, which is included in your entry fee and raising money for a great charity! ”

The KidsCan Charitable Trust is encouraging businesses, individuals, families and groups of friends to get behind the event. Participants can run it, walk it, skip it, hop it – finish it however they like.

Early bird entries are available until Saturday, 1 November, with the opportunity to save 20% of the fee - $20 adults, $15 students/seniors and $8 kids - as well as going into the draw to win a prize.

KidsCan GM Marketing and Fundraising, Jan Clark, says “The Santa Run is such a great event for people to get involved in. We have been part of the run for five years now and every dollar raised helps us continue our work supporting Kiwi kids”.

To enter as an individual or team go to www.santarun.co.nz

*The Hastings and Palmerston North events will be on Thursday the 4 December.

The Great KidsCan Santa Run, 3 December 2014 at 6.30pm

About KidsCan
The KidsCan Charitable Trust was founded in 2005 in a garage in Greenhithe, Auckland by Julie Chapman. An evaluation which was conducted in 80 low decile schools, after hearing continuous media reports about New Zealand children going without the basics. We wanted to find out just how widespread the problem was and how it was affecting children’s ability to participate in class.

The evaluation revealed that thousands of children were turning up to school cold, wet and hungry because their parents were struggling to make ends meet. Schools reported that this was having a major impact on children’s learning ability, self-esteem and health. Children who miss out on the basics get sick more often, do worse at school and when they become adults they are more likely to be unemployed and have children who will also grow up in poverty.

With all of this in mind we decided to do something about it and KidsCan was started with a generous $40,000 grant from Guardian Trust. Today KidsCan supports the education of thousands of children in 430 low decile schools throughout New Zealand, providing food, shoes, socks, fleece lined Vodafone Warriors branded raincoats and basic hygiene items. Our tangible programmes ensure disadvantaged children can get to and through the schools gates in a better position to learn.

KidsCan mission is to meet the physical and nutritional needs of Kiwi kids less fortunate than others so they can be more engaged in their education and have a better chance of reaching their potential in life.

By 2016 our KidsCan’s vision is to use their distinctive ability to fund, source and distribute food, clothing and meet basic health care needs, will have improved educational outcomes for all disadvantaged NZ children in decile 1-4 schools.

For more information please visit www.kidscan.org.nz/

About Santa Run
Started in 2008 by Lactic Turkey Events, the Santa Run has grown from an Auckland only event to an event across 18 regions nationwide with the introduction of two new venues this year–Invercargill and Wanaka.

This is a great family event and is suitable for people of all ages and levels of fitness.

Santa Suits are provided to all entrants over 13 years old and Santa hats to those under 13 years, but there have been awesome outfits and dressing up in previous years. Lots of elves, Rudolph’s and other characters make the run and are rewarded with a spot prizes for the best dressed at each venue.

For more details and to enter online go to www.santarun.co.nz

ENDS

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