paws4kawerau

Why run 100km?

I've been involved with Paul Charteris' Tarawera Ultramarathon run from Rotorua to Kawerau since 2009 - starting as an aid station volunteer and ending up organising the Rotorua side of things for several years. First, I thought people are crazy to run that far. Now I want to know what it's like to run 100km. For me, this event is a personal challenge combining training with work and life and making it to the finish line with a smile.

But I don't want to make this just about myself.

Why Kawerau and SPCA?

I am Rotorua-based and through my work at the TUM, I've gotten to know and love the community and individuals of Kawerau.

Last year we decided to adopt a dog and drove to Kawerau SPCA to meet our future family member - Jett. On our way to Kawerau, we spotted a dog in the bush. We stopped and she ran towards us - a skeleton girl, a rope tied tight around her throat and she collapsed in my lap. The SPCA did not hesitate to take her in and give her a second chance. I learned that this girls fate is not unusual in Kawerau.

The area is poor and too many dogs and cats are not de-sexed, too many dogs are used for hunting and left in the bush if deemed "not useful", too many kittens and puppies are thrown into Tarawera River, too many animals are just put on the street to fend for themselves when people can't afford them or get bored of them.

This year gone has seen an unusually high amount on animals, especially dogs, come through the centre, coupled with an unusually high amount of dogs hit by cars and needing high cost vet treatments. Two amputations, punctured lungs, torn off pads - things like this have left the centre with a very high vet bill.

The centre does the best it can, but being a small community, isolated and in low socio-economic environment, resources are limited. Raising cash funds is especially hard for this centre. A centre, that is run by an incredible hard working group of caring individuals.

I see the TUM as a chance to put the community of Kawerau and the SPCA into the limelight and give a little bit of something back.

Why donate to this cause?

A small amount of money for you goes a long way for an animal in need. 2 dollars buys a kilo of meat, which can feed a dog for several days. This is half a take-away coffee for you.

You don't need to give much to make a very big difference.