Keir & Vikki's Great Adventure

During the month of March my friend Vikki and I are attempting to run a minimum of 480km over the course of 11 running days. RuNning the infamous Tongariro, Waikeremoana, Abel Tasman, Heaphy and the Routeburn prior to taking part in what is considered to be one of the hardest races on the planet; The Northburn 100, (160 km ultra marathon). we will finish off with the Hilary Trail. In total we will be running appx 480km and conquering over of 10000mtrs of ascent and decent. We are going to do all this and all the travelling in between in just under 3 weeks!!

So why are we doing this? I have two main objectives to this challenge. primarily, I want to raise money for the Ronald Macdonald Housing Charity. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to have a sick child, especially one where no known cure is available. This charity offers the support and care needed to keep families like mine together. Being together is what gives you the strength to carry on. RMHC creates, finds and supports programmes that help children live happier, healthier lives. By thoroughly researching and understanding the needs of children and families in New Zealand, as well as learning from the Ronald McDonald House Charities family around the world, they are able to provide the necessary help families need to get through what can sometimes be the hardest times they will ever endure. Families with a chronically ill child are often placed under immense emotional, physical and financial stress. That is why it is so important to me to help raise a few extra dollars to help them achieve their goals.

My second objective is to help raise funds for my Microsoft workmates to take part in an endurance event , the CureKids Adventure Race to raise money for the CUREKIDS charity. Again these guys do amazing work researching cures for illnesses that we don’t yet understand and that threaten the lives and happiness of so many families with children. In their own words funding ( ie your donations) will help improve the health of children through their research which will “find the cures and better treatments that will save and improve lives. It’s like putting a fence at the top of the cliff, instead of an ambulance on the bottom.

Both Vikki and I have children with an illness for which there currently is no cure so this charity is especially close to both our hearts.

Any donations you could spare would be much appreciated no matter how large or small, every cent will go to either one of the two charities I have mentioned and it really would mean the world to me to help give back.

We will be posting updates along the way so please watch our progress and track our progress on the trails.

Many thanks for reading and if you are able to make a donation, please follow the link to do so!

If you are interested to run with us we would welcome participation to run the Hilary or any part of it on Good Friday 25th and Saturday 26th March. We will be exhausted but figure we finish with a run where friends can easy support in return for a donation.. Contact me for the itinerary

Keir