Hawkes Bay Marathon for I am Hope

Hi everyone! I am creating this page on behalf of the Lawson/Bargh family. On May 18th, a group of our family members will be competing in the Hawkes Bay Marathon. Eight of us will be running the half marathon, and the other seven will be competing in the 10km. All proceeds raised will be going to the I am Hope foundation, a charity very close to our hearts.

I am Hope is a foundation that is passionately committed to delivering immediate, free counselling to young Kiwis in need. Their purpose is to drive positive, societal, attitudinal change in the way kiwis, think, act and feel about mental health and build a more hopeful future for New Zealand kids. Since 2019, Gumboot Friday (an initiative created by I am Hope) have provided more than 86,000 therapy sessions to kiwis, these sessions are available to anyone aged 5-25 anywhere in New Zealand. Founded by Mike King, this transformative organisation has impacted countless lives, with over 500,000 Kiwi youths reached through their initiatives, and have spoken and listened to over 300,000 kids in schools throughout New Zealand. In a country where youth suicide rates are among the highest in the developed world, 'I am hope' stands as a pillar of support.