8,849m for Team NZ – My Treadmill Everest

This October, I’ve been selected to coach Team New Zealand at the WKF Youth Karate World Championships in Poland.

This one is particularly special, with three athletes from Toatakai Karate representing NZ after an incredible year that saw our team win New Zealand’s first-ever WKF Kumite medal at a Youth Karate 1 event in Manila.

In previous years, NZ coaches attending the Youth World Championships have been fully funded. This year, the federation won't cover any expenses, and coaches need to cover the entire cost ourselves. With flights and the required team accommodation, it’s a significant and unexpected expense I hadn’t budgeted for.

But I’m determined to be there.

Before Poland, our athletes will spend a week training in Slovakia to acclimatise and prepare, joined by five other NZ team members. I want to give these young athletes every opportunity to arrive at the World Championships ready to perform at their best.

So, to help get me there, I’m climbing Everest — on a treadmill.

On Sunday 13 September, I’ll attempt to climb the full 8,849 vertical metres of Mt Everest in one continuous challenge, livestreaming the entire thing.

On the day, donations will also be able to make the climb even harder, triggering challenges and punishments like wearing a weighted vest. More details to come!

Every donation or share will help get me to Poland to support our athletes on the biggest stage in youth karate.

8,849 metres. One treadmill. One very long Sunday. Let’s get to Poland.