Paddling 1000 Miles for Purpose : Supporting Pasifika Youth Through the Fa’avae Pasifika Fund.

$12,745 of $10,000 goal
Given by 170 generous donors in around 4 months

Paddling 1000 miles to raise $10,000 for Pasifika youth in Tasman through the Fa’avae Foundation.

Motueka, Tasman

In July 2026, I’ll be taking on one of the toughest endurance events in the world, the Yukon1000. That’s 1,000 miles of continuous paddling through remote wilderness in Canada and Alaska, testing resilience, teamwork, and determination.

But this challenge is about more than just finishing.

I’m aiming to raise $10,000 - $10 for every mile paddled - to support the Fa’avae Pasifika Fund. This fund will provide ongoing support for Pasifika youth, with all contributions placed into the Fa’avae Pasifika Fund held by the Top of the South Community Foundation. Funds will be professionally invested, with the income generated used to support Pasifika communities long‑term, creating impact well beyond this campaign. This kaupapa is close to my heart, focused on helping Pasifika youth in the Tasman region access better opportunities in education, health, and life.

Through my journey in sport and the outdoors, I’ve seen firsthand how the right support, guidance, and opportunities can change the direction of a young person’s life. The Fa’avae Pasifika Fund exists to provide exactly that, creating pathways, building confidence, and supporting future leaders in our communities.

If you’re able to support, even $10, one mile, makes a real difference.

Let’s turn every paddle stroke into opportunity.

Nathan Fa'avae's involvement (page creator)

My parents founded the Fa’avae Foundation and am deeply committed to supporting Pasifika youth through education, health, and opportunity in our community.

Use of funds

Funds will support Pasifika youth in Tasman with education, health initiatives, mentoring, and opportunities to grow confidence, skills, and future pathways.

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Latest update

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Thank You for Your Incredible Support  28 July 2026

Thank you!

A huge thank you to everyone who donated to our Yukon 1000 Pasifika Fundraiser. Your generosity has been incredible, and together we've reached our fundraising goal. It means so much to Sophie and me, and even more importantly, it will help create opportunities for Pasifika youth through the Top of the South Community Foundation.

Thank you also to everyone who followed our journey, sent messages of encouragement, and cheered us on from back home. During a race like the Yukon 1000, you don't get to see those messages until the finish, but knowing so many people were behind us made the achievement even more special.

We're grateful to have been able to win the race and set a new course record, but what will stay with us most is the support and generosity shown by our community. It's a reminder that adventures like this can have a purpose beyond the finish line.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in us and for helping make a positive difference.

Ngā mihi nui,

Nathan

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2% Effective Fee
On average, fundraisers pay just 2% to use Givealittle. This is one of the lowest effective fees in New Zealand fundraising. We charge a 5% platform fee to cover the cost of running the platform. Because most donors choose to top up their donation to cover this fee, the effective cost paid by fundraisers is about 2%. That means around 98 cents of every dollar raised goes to the cause. Learn More

Latest donations

Tiff
Tiff 5 days ago
Congratulations on an amazing effort and a great cause.
$50
Meridian Twizel Hard Labour Event
Meridian Twizel Hard Labour Event on 21 Jul 2026
Fantastic kaupapa, Nathan! Supporting youth in the community is close to our hearts too. So stoked you paddled with us last year, hope to see you back this October 🙌
$250
Andy
Andy on 19 Jul 2026
Incredible result. So inspirational and difficult to comprehend just how hard that race was and the effort required. Well done Nathan and Sophie.
$20
Anna & Ben
Anna & Ben on 17 Jul 2026
$50
Moenui
Moenui on 16 Jul 2026
$100

Who's involved?

Nathan Fa'avae's avatar
Created by Nathan Fa'avae
Top of the South Community Foundation's avatar
Paying to a verified bank account of Top of the South Community Foundation (Charity) on behalf of Fa'avae Foundation
Tax credit
Donations of over $5 are eligible for a New Zealand charitable giving tax credit.
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This campaign started on 1 Apr 2026 and ended on 25 Jul 2026.