Deb Gee runs 12 Marathons in 12 Months

Although I’m not a natural runner, I love running and I know that the resulting endorphins and increased fitness adds something positive and upbeat to my life! Even if it doesn’t come naturally to me, I know running can make a huge difference so I always set out to achieve incremental goals when I run. I’m lucky. I have a healthy body, I live in a beautiful part of the world for training runs, and I have supportive friends and family for any goals I set myself.

Running is about training, consistency, determination and support. And that got me thinking... Those are all traits that our tamariki are taught when they participate in the Graeme Dingle Foundation’s programs: Kiwi Can, Stars and Project K. I was introduced to the Graeme Dingle Foundation through Papamoa Rotary who do amazing work for the community and support fantastic organisations like theirs; this led to my more active involvement as a volunteer mentor for one of the students in their Project K programme this year- an experience that I am finding immensely rewarding.

I love the ethos of the Graeme Dingle Foundation and wished to do even more to support their work whilst also setting up a challenge for myself.

So, here I go! My plan is to run 12 marathons in 12 months in 12 locations starting September 2020 to raise funds and support the work the foundation is doing here in my local community.

Some of our young people are doing it tough. Stuff is happening in their lives that put them on the back foot and struggling just to keep it together: lack of support, low self-esteem, bullying, mental health issues, family trauma and dysfunction.

I want our tamariki to know that there are a few simple things they have within themselves to be best they can be. Self-love, self-determination and an acknowledgement of their own special and unique talents is helped by the support of awesome projects like Kiwi Can, Project K and the Stars programs. I’ve witnessed the transformation of young people first hand and watched with aroha as young people become empowered using newly learned skills to help them get back on track.

The Graeme Dingle Foundation provides them with incredible support but they need funding to make these available so my goal is to raise $150,000 over the next 12 months.

And I’m going to do it by running - I’m running for their lives!

Join me for a training run, for a marathon or please support this cause by making a donation. Anything you can do for this will help make a difference for our young people.

Thank you the following organizations who are already supporting this exciting project:

· HPCE

· Placemakers Mount Maunganui

· Graeme Dingle Foundation Western Bay of Plenty

· Rotary Papamoa

· Barrett Homes

· NOXEN Surf

· Le Roux Media

· Get the Message Copywriting

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