Alabama 650 : A Huge Thank You!
17 October 2026
Well, that was quite an adventure!
When I signed up for the Alabama 650, I expected 1,000 km of paddling, very little sleep and plenty of challenges. What I hadn't planned on was a hurricane joining the race!
Mother Nature had other ideas, and while the race didn't go quite as hoped, the fundraising certainly did.
Together, we raised an incredible $4,702 through the Alabama 650 Sponsor a Mile campaign! (I paddled 400-miles)
Combined with our Yukon 1000 fundraising earlier this year, that's a remarkable NZ$17,447.08 for the Fa'avae Pasifika Fund!
A massive, heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed. Whether you sponsored a mile or several, your generosity means so much.
Our long-term vision is to grow the Fa'avae Pasifika Fund through the Top of the South Community Foundation, building an investment fund whose returns will eventually support opportunities and experiences for Pasifika youth, generation after generation.
I love the thought that the miles we paddle today might help a young person discover their own adventure tomorrow.
The races come and go, the blisters heal, the sleep deprivation wears off, and even hurricanes eventually move on, but hopefully the positive impact of what we're building will last for generations.
Thank you for being part of this journey. $17,447.08 is an extraordinary sum, and something we can all be proud of.
The Alabama adventure is over, but the bigger adventure is only beginning.
Fa'afetai tele lava!
Nathan Fa'avae