100 Miles for the Dream Chaser Foundation

$8,380 donated

Given by 127 generous donors in around 3 months

Ben Hancock running 100 miles to raise money for the Dream Chaser Foundation who support children with cancer and their whānau in Aotearoa.

Whakatane, Bay Of Plenty

Kia ora, we are the Hancock family – Ben, Kate, Ella, Lottie and Hamish. In February 2022 Ben will be running in the Tarawera 100 mile race raising money for the Dream Chaser Foundation. This came about because earlier this year our youngest child, Hamish, was diagnosed at 7months old with a rare form of jaw cancer.

What made this incredibly tough time easier was all the different support there was for kids with cancer, from the medical side through to whānau support from Ronald McDonald House.

What we have come to realise is a lot of this support is funded by charities. The Dream Chaser Foundation is a registered charity which supports children with cancer and their whānau in Aotearoa. It was set up in memory of Chace Topperwien who died of Leukaemia in 2012.

The Topperweins know the cancer journey well and what support is needed. They provide practical and emotional support to help ease the financial burden of caring for a child with cancer, through petrol and grocery vouchers, gifts, bereavement grants and are also regular donors to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

We are grateful that Hamish is 18months old now and is recovering well. COVID has put a stop to a lot of the fundraising but it hasn’t stopped kids getting cancer.

We would love you to sponsor Ben in his Tarawera 100 mile race by donating to our give a little page which goes directly to the Dream Chaser Foundation to help them keep on supporting other whānau and their tamariki who are facing cancer.

Latest update

Run day! 15 February 2022

Well what a day it was! 102km done and dusted.

The weather was extreme with nonstop rain, 1000% humidity and an overnight low of 26 degrees.

The day started smoothly, I was pumped to see other runners on the track doing their own version of the Tarawera ultramarathon. Millar road I was feeling good but half way up the western Ōkataina walkway my body was not liking it and I had a quick spew before ambling into the aid station. Sorry guys I didn’t bring the energy to that aid station, but you all definitely made up for it, so many friends and family, the music was cranking and I found my groove.

Thanks to everyone for bringing their kids out in the rain and cheering me on. I know my kids had a ball. The rest of the run involved a lot more rain, getting lost a few times and running up what felt like cliff faces but coming into each aid station was so good. So well looked after by everyone.

Thanks to Kate my lovely wife, the true master mind behind the idea to do a fundraiser for the Dream chaser foundation. She truly made this all possible. Lots of sacrifice from both Kate and the kids so I could follow my passion of running and get in the training to complete the run and raise the funds.

To the crew chiefs Mike and my mum Liz, they brought huge energy and also had a massive day out there in the rain doing the logistics.

The running and bike riding crew, who kept me company, kept me fed and pushed me on and gave the tough love when I was lagging.

I want to say a big thanks to all that have donated to our give a little page. In speaking to Keri and Ryan from the Dream Chaser Foundation they plan to use the money to do a present drop to each child on the oncology ward in starship as well as whānau support packages, and some will go to the Auckland Ronald Mc Donald house.

It makes us so happy to know that the money can bring some light and relief in a time when life is so hard. Also thanks to Chace for his charity and the opportunity it gave us to give back.

The givealittle page is open until the 1st of March so if you haven't donated it's not too late 😉

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