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Anika Whapshott from Blah Blah Marketing is taking part in the Project Island Song’s 12ks of Christmas

  • Day 12 – Completed, well done everyone! 🥳

      12 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    Congratulations to all the participants for completing the 12ks of Christmas Challenge, raising money for Project Island Song. You’ve done an amazing job, there has been rain and shine, tough days and easy/easier days but you’ve all been so enthusiastic in getting your kms in each day. Good on you!

    Thank you also to everyone who has donated, or walked or run alongside the participants, giving them motivation and entertainment along the way. There is still time to donate, our donation page closes on 31st December. 🤩

    There will be a video on the main challenge page showcasing all the participants photos and videos from the last 12 days. It’ll be out in the next week or so, (once we’ve had a rest!) so keep an eye out for that here: https://givealittle.co.nz/event/12ksofchristmas or on the Project Island Song Facebook page, or sign up to the Project Island Song newsletter by visiting the website https://projectislandsong.co.nz/contact/#subscribe

    In the meantime, here's a short summary of stats from the last 12 days:

    - 8 human participants

    - 1 guide dog participant

    - A total of 1086km completed plus 144 dog kms

    - 16 tired human legs, 4 tired dog legs

    - Dozens of supporters walking or running alongside the participants

    - 10s of thousands of calories burnt

    - Hundreds of hours of volunteered time

    - And over $14,000 raised for Project Island Song!

    Thank you!!!

    ….So, who’s up for joining in next year??? 😁🏃‍♀️🏃🚶‍♀️🚶

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  • Day 11 - Getting out to the islands

      11 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    Today saw Miriam heading out with her conservation dogs Will and Ahu to complete the rodent checks on Moturua, so some of the participants hitched a lift out to the islands to complete their 12ks on Urupukapuka. It was great to see the impact of being 15 years pest-free has had on the bird life, despite the showers the chorus was incredible. 🐦🐦🐦

    Anika headed out in Kerikeri today, you can watch her video below. And check out some of the photos from the group out on Urupukapuka.

    Tomorrow is the last day for those taking part and it's looking a bit gnarly weatherwise, but they will still be out there completing the 12ks of Christmas. Give them a like, a wave or cheer if you see them, they are all stars and ready to put their feet up after completing this challenge!

    https://givealittle.co.nz/event/12ksofchristmas Thank you!

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  • Day 10 – Grey & rainy but still going

      10 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    It may well have been a rainy day today, but the team still got out there to complete their distances – good on them! Your donations have really help motivate everyone to get up and lace up those shoes each day.

    It turns out a few of them had the same plan to get out bright and early this morning and even bumped into each other during their walks and runs.

    The team in Russell realise how good it is to see each other on some of their walks/runs to give each other a boost and motivation and talk about how tired their legs are at this point 😉

    A big shout out goes to Vinnie and Anika who are completing their 12ks of Christmas in Taupo and Kerikeri respectively and might not see the rest of the team which makes it a lot harder, but they are still rocking it! Ka Pai! 😁

    A big thank you also to Raewyn who has joined William on several of his walks so is building up those kms too!

    120km down just 24kms to go for the 144kers and 55km down and 23 to go for the traditional 12ks of Christmas.

    Two days to go! wwooohoooo

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  • Day 9 - WOW we've reached our target

      9 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    Day 9 - WOW we've reached the $12,000 target! 🥳Wooohooooo! Thank you so much to everyone who has donated and is still donating, you're incredible. 🥰😁🤩

    Just because we've reached our target goal doesn't meant the team stops, we'll still be out there stepping into Christmas for the next three days. Our legs are getting tired now so any motivation and cheers along the way if you see them will be well recieved.

    You can still donate to keep them motivated the Give a Little page will still allow donations until 31 December.

    Today Anika completed her walk in Kerikeri, Maryanne sent a cheeky photo of her in the Russell Volunteer Fire Brigade truck. And Laura had to do an extra 4km as she forgot to set an activity on her watch... doh, and as everyone knows if it's not on Strava it doesn't count 😩🤦‍♀️

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  • Day 8 - Auckland, Russell hills and Christmas Parade

      8 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    Day 8, wow, thank you to everyone who has donated so far, we’ve now reached $11,500 of our target, it’s incredible and we still have four days to go. THANK YOU for your generocity!!! 🥰

    Today saw Laura and Alex running in Auckland, William walking some hills in Russell and finishing up with the Russell Christmas Parade. Meri Kirihimete. 🎄

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  • Day 7 and the team are still going strong. 💪

      7 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    Some different locations for the runs and walks today. Tracey did hers in Auckland and Laura & Alex completed their 12ks in Whangarei which included the regular Saturday morning Parkrun, plus 7kms of course!

    William completed his in Russell and saw some predator free Russell rat traps in working order, one had even caught a rat! 🐀

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  • Day 6 – We’re halfway!

      6 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    Day 6 completed, another hot one but the team are halfway through. Woohoo!!!

    Today saw Anika in Kerikeri completing her walk, Moana and Tracey meeting at Matauwhi Bay and William and others heading over to Paihia and Waitangi to complete their 12ks. The day finished up with the Project Island Song team taking part in the Paihia Christmas Parade.

    For those keen folk who take part in Whangarei Parkrun/Parkwalk on a Saturday morning keep an eye out for Laura and Alex who will be heading there tomorrow morning as part of their 12kms.

    Enjoy this sunny Friday evening. ☀️🎄

    https://givealittle.co.nz/event/12ksofchristmas

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  • Day 5 of the 12ks of Christmas: 🎄

      5 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    Today, thanks to everyone who has donated, we have passed the $10,500 mark!

    What incredible motivation for the team taking part, THANK YOU! 🥰

    Did you know everyone taking part is doing so voluntarily and in their own time, which means every dollar raised comes straight to Project Island Song.

    Todays walks and runs saw scenic lookouts, chickens crossing the path and Te Araroa Trail walkers.

    If you've donated already or are thinking about it, did you know donations over $5 are eligible for a New Zealand charitable giving tax credit. https://givealittle.co.nz/event/12ksofchristmas

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  • Day 4 - we're a third of the way through

      4 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    The end of day four which means we're a third of the way through the 12kms of Christmas. There's now less than 100km each to go for those completing the full 144km and 68m to go for those completing the traditional version.

    Today, Tracey did her walk in the day light, Maryanne and Moana caught up with some folks around Russell, Laura & Alex went 'overseas' to Opua and William did loops up to the lookout that takes in incredible views of the islands of Ipipiri. 😍

    Thanks to the team for sharing their photos!

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  • Day 3: Blackout, big chair & boardwalks

      3 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    Day three completed. Well done team!

    Tracey started so early it was still dark, William and his walking team visited the big chair in Russell and Laura & Alex ran a lot of lengths of the boardwalk.

    Only 108km to go for the 144km team and 72km for the traditional participants. 😁

    A big thank you to all who have donated, you're awesome! We're really close to reaching our target of $12,000 with less than $3000 to go, can we reach it before day 12???

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  • Day 2

      2 December 2024
    Posted by: Project Island Song
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    As we're nearing the completion of day 2 of the 12kms of Christmas, in total everyone taking part will have achieved a combined 171kms in two days! That's incredible.

    Keep up the great effort everyone:

    Only 120km to go for those taking part in the 144km version.

    Only 75km to go for those taking part in the traditional 12kms of Christmas.

    Image is of William's Orongo Bay walk this morning. Beautiful.

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