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Skyline to Sea Walking Marathon for Parkinson's NZ - Sat 3rd February 2024

  • Fundraising draws to a close- thank you

      10 March 2024
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    After four months of training for and completing a walking marathon we concluded our fundraising for Parkinson’s NZ by holding a movie fundraiser and raffle at the Lighthouse Cuba Cinema this week. This boosted funds by over $2,000 to reach over $35,000. This is way in excess of our initial target of $20,000. Thank you all for your generous support.

    A small group of walkers who have completed all four of the charity walks completed since January 2022 gathered today atop Mount Kaukau to reflect on and celebrate our achievement with some bubbles, chocolate and chat.

    After raising a total of over $77,000 across the four walks – for Cancer Society, UNICEF Ukraine, Cyclone Gabrielle and now Parkinson’s NZ - we have decided to put the fundraising to one side for now and complete the next walking challenge for fun! We think our families and friends have given enough over the last two years.

    What that challenge will be in early 2025 remains to be seen. There is talk of walking 50kms from Mount Kaukau to Waikanae Beach along the Te Araroa Trail.

    This fundraising page will close a week from now on Sunday 17 March.

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  • Sea to Skyline goes international - walking marathon completed in Germany

      9 February 2024
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    As one of the small group of people who have participated in all three previous S to S events, our good friend Manu couldn’t let small details get in the way of him participating for the fourth time. Details such as living in Germany. Here is his report (abridged).

    I picked a section of the 120km Burgensteig (Castle trail) near Mannheim. This took 11 hours, 50km, and an incline of 1430m.

    While the distance and altitude may be comparable, that’s where the similarities ended. On Tannenberg castle, which was built around the same time of NZ’s original settlement about 800 years ago, I met a few archaeologists who proudly showed me an old cannonball that they had dug up.

    It was 8 - 9 degrees, just cold enough to keep warm by walking, cloudy, but with a clear visibility, and with no wind to speak of. Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet, so the trees were without foliage and the vegetation was sparse. I did see some deer, though, and surprisingly a crocodile (pictured).

    I largely had the trail to myself, which was yet another stark contrast to walking with a crew of some 30 people. The one group of hikers I met after being about 35km in, promptly offered me some calvados that they poured into an empty bottle of mine.

    Fittingly, at around the time I finished, the rest of the crew started their marathon hike in Wellington. So here’s the challenge for the next S to S challenge: Walk 24h in 2 shifts.

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  • We've smashed our $20000 target so we're going to double it

      7 February 2024
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    We've had such an incredible response to marathon walking fundraising efforts. Thank you all so much. Parkinson's NZ is a small charity with a very big and growing job. Every $ will make a real difference so it is incumbent upon us to use the momentum and interest the walk has generated to raise more funds. We will continue to promote the cause and are also arranging a movie fundraiser and raffle for early March.

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  • An epic day completing the Skyline to Sea Walking Marathon

      7 February 2024
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    An epic day deserves an epic report – but we only have limited space to tell it here.

    It’s a tale of some amazing humans who have, at the time of writing, raised $30,730. Such has been the generous response so far we are today raising our target to $40,000, twice our original aim. Thank you all so much.

    Having moved the walk from Saturday to avoid thunder, lightning and hail, Wellington rewarded us with a beautifully sunny but increasingly windy Sunday.

    It proved to be a magnificent experience with everyone pulling together and giving their all. Almost all of the team of 45 completed a walking marathon. At times it was painful and emotional but that is indicative of the challenge. The beaming smiles in many of the pictures added to the gallery tell the true story. Few of the group had walked more than 35kms before and many not more than 25kms – so 42.4kms, and between 9 and 12 hours, up and down and up and down the green hills that ring NZ’s beautiful capital city was an amazing achievement.

    We couldn’t have done it without our fantastic support crew.

    Thanks also to:

    • Café du Parc in Khandallah who opened early at 7am for a pre-walk coffee

    • Beach House Cafe who allowed us to use their beautifully located deck for our finish line and celebrations

    • Khandallah Tennis and Squash Club , the now traditional after walk venue for pizza and rehydration therapy

    This was a spectacular walk - it should be a Great Walk then we could stop halfway at a hut!

    Café du Parc https://www.facebook.com/cafeduparckhandallah/ (https://www.facebook.com/cafeduparckhandallah/)

    Beach House Café https://www.beachhouseandkiosk.co.nz/ (https://www.beachhouseandkiosk.co.nz/)

    Khandallah Tennis and Squash Club https://ktsc.org.nz/ (https://ktsc.org.nz/)

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  • Weather holds for team of three completing marathon

      3 February 2024
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    Kia ora e te whānau! Just a quick update from Abbey, Wirangi and Toni who completed their marathon today…

    When the walk was postponed to Sunday due to weather, we had to split from the pack due to existing commitments on Sunday. But ironically, it ended up being a beautiful day for a walk for our kaupapa - funraising for Parkinsons. We challenged ourselves to a fast pace and jogged a lot of the downhill areas on the skyline. Friends and whānau were waiting for us at Mākara Peak Bike Park with encouragement, drinks and fuel! We got more support at the top of Wrights Hill from Steve who came to cheer us on.

    The leg from Wrights hill to Brooklyn and then the ‘Dome were the most challenging for us! We pulled out the headphones and amped up the self talk but finally got there! Walking along the Red Rocks track was good and it was great to be back on flat land and next to the sea. The last stretch along the beach was tough but our fast pace paid off and we made it to the Beach House and Kiosk before closing time to get an ice cream and some cold drinks.

    The walk has given us a great level of respect for endurance athletes, truckloads of empathy for friends and whānau who can’t move their bodies like they would want, and a greater love for ice cream!

    Really happy to have completed the walk and to be involved in such an awesome kaupapa!

    Kia kaha e te whānau! Best of luck to the rest of the team who is walking tomorrow 🙂

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  • Walk now on Sunday 4th Feb due to weather.

      2 February 2024

    We have decided to use our reserve day Sunday to complete the walk due to forecast high winds and thunderstorms/hail on Saturday. A few brave souls who can't do the walk on Sunday are giving it a go tomorrow.

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  • Living with Parkinson's and walking 42kms

      31 January 2024

    Lovely little video from Jennifer Andrewes talking about her experience of living with Parkinson's and completing training for the walking marathon on Saturday.

    We have smashed our $20,000 target thanks to everyone's generosity and now setting our sites on $30,000.

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  • Media coverage is raising awareness and dollars

      27 January 2024
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    Through one of the walking group's excellent connections we have managed to secure to some good media coverage which is not only raising awareness of Parkinson's but is supporting our fundraising efforts.

    There was a great article about the inspirational Jennifer Andrewes, who has been living with early onset Parkinson's for several years, in the Post. https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350146736/walkin-walk-people-parkinsons

    And another one about the walk in the Independent Herald (pictured here).

    Thanks you for all your support.

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  • Here we are on top of Mount Kaukau again

      25 January 2024
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    Into our last 9 days of training for the big effort on 3rd February now. To increase our kms we walked 'home' from work in the city centre along the Northern Walkway and over Mount Kaukau - that's the long way home to our respective homes in J'ville, Broadmeadows and Khandallah. For some it was walking in totally the wrong direction to get home but they still came as part of the team.

    Fundraising is going really well with the total now close to $14,000. We're confident of reaching our target of $20,000. We really appreciate all the support.

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  • What will $20,000 enable Parkinson's NZ to provide?

      23 January 2024
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    We're aiming to raise $20,000 for Parkinson's NZ and with your continued support look as though we are on track to achieve that with $13,000 raised with 10 days to go until the marathon walk.

    So what could Parkinson's NZ provide with $20K? It could go towards funding 188 support groups or 150 home visits ensuring people with Parkinson’s have vital access to trustworthy information, education and support. The role of a Parkinson's Educator is described here: https://www.parkinsons.org.nz/get-support/meet-a-parkinsons-educator

    Parkinson's NZ is small charity with a vital and ever-growing job to do. Every $ you contribute will make a difference to people's lives.

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  • 31 kms in 28 degree heat - two weeks to go

      22 January 2024
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    Well that was HOT 🥵

    Steve A’s group of 15 enthusiastic walkers, headed off at 8am for a pleasant Sunday lunch at Makara Summit, after water refills & ICE 🧊 at Makara Rd thanks to Angela’s husband, Simon. After parting ways with Jennifer, Michelle & Andrea who choose to do the shady route to Wrights Hill. We foolishly headed back to Mt Kaukau in the blazing Sun ☀️ After a sneaky little side shuffle up Johnson Hill to add to the K’s, & a couple also up to the Kaukau Trig, we arrived back at Khandallah Pool for much needed ice creams - beating Mark & Nic at ~31k’s at the car park.

    Great effort by all !!

    Oh, & did I say it was HOT - faces matched the T-shirts 😎

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  • Resilience training in gale force winds in Belmont Hills

      14 January 2024
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    “We’ll just go up to Boulder Hill and see how windy it is there and then revert to plan B if it’s difficult to stand up.”

    Yeah right …. a bit of wind won’t stop this group of Sea to Skyliners. So we marched on across the Belmont Hills on the 23kms Puke Ariki Traverse. A great walk but pretty challenging with a fierce northwester coming across your path blowing you sideways. At times people resorted to crouching down and the lighter members of the party sought extra weight for the backpacks. Walking in windy conditions has a really draining effect after a few hours and we concluded that being 20% harder meant we actually walked 28kms.

    Just as fun in the wind was wearing a bit thin we finished the “Dress Circle” ridge and got to a sheltered section on the leeside of the ridge and could collapse for a well-earned lunch. Topics of discussion were dominated by supplements and the merits of caffeine gels and electrolyte drinks. The team are looking for any legal edge they can get ahead of the big day.

    From there Belmont Trig (photo) was just a short stroll and then down the lovely Korokoro Valley to the road end. Rehydration therapy in a Petone pub was very well attended, a good sign that the team are gelling nicely. Camaraderie will be all the supplement we need come marathon walk day.

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  • Keeping up the training during Christmas

      30 December 2023
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    The team have been making the most of time with family and friends over Christmas whilst keeping up the kilometres to build for the marathon walk in 5 weeks time. Some extracts from the walkers' FB are shown in the photo below. Exploits include:

    Two family groups separately climbing Mount Holdsworth (1470m) in the Tararuas near Masterton - 21 kms and 1200 metres in height gain.

    One couple completed the return trip on the Kinloch to Kawakawa track on Lake Taupo (25kms) and then a few days later climbed up to the Ruahine Tops via Rangiwahia Hut.

    Two friends walked 20kms on the Te Araroa Trail from Porirua to Johnsonville via Rangatuhi/Colonial Knob and the Ohariu Valley.

    Another walker climbed Mount Matthews in the Rimutakas, an 8 hour challenging climb.

    Others have been a bit coy about their training over the Christmas period.

    Five weeks to go and things are building nicely.

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  • Five Go Wild in Wellington - part two

      20 December 2023
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    The wind continued its wild dance, making their walk even more thrilling. Hats flew off, and scarves fluttered like flags. As they finally reached Island Bay, the sight was breathtaking. The sea stretched out before them, sparkling under the sun. "We've made it - even without Pippi the dog!" exclaimed Jennifer, feeling a surge of triumph.

    To celebrate their adventurous day, they shared a feast of sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, and, of course, lashings of ginger beer. They sat there by the beach, relishing their snacks and the beautiful view, their hearts full of the morning’s adventures.

    "This was better than any book!" Ian declared. And they all agreed. It was a day filled with fun, laughter, and camaraderie. As the mist descended again over the hills and the rain set in, they promised to embark on more adventures together, exploring the hills of Wellington with the same spirit and enthusiasm as their fictional heroes.

    And so, with hearts light and spirits high, the Five friends made their way back home, buffeted along by the wild wind an already planning their next grand adventure. For they knew, as long as they were together, every day could be an exciting chapter in their very own Famous Five story.

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  • Five Go Wild in Wellington - part one

      20 December 2023
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    One wet, cold, blustery Sunday morning, five hardy walking friends - Ian, Alan, Jason, Iona, and Jennifer set out on an expedition from Wrights Hill to the fishing village of Island Bay to trace the planned route for the second half of their 42km February marathon. The wind was playing a boisterous tune, as if inviting them to a wild dance across the hills and valleys.

    Their first stop was the Brooklyn wind turbine, standing proudly against the windy sky. "Just like a giant's electric fan!" exclaimed Jason, his eyes wide with wonder. They all laughed and imagined giants using the turbine to cool themselves on hot summer days. A stretch of the imagination in the thick mist and steady drizzle.

    As they journeyed on, the path led them to the intriguing Hawkins Hill radome. It loomed ahead like a mysterious moon station. "I bet it's hiding all sorts of secrets," whispered Iona, her eyes gleaming with excitement. They tiptoed around it, half-expecting secret agents to jump out at any moment.

    Their mission to measure the marathon distance took them over rugged terrain towards Red Rocks. The path was a bit challenging, but the Five were not ones to shy away from adventure. "Just the kind of place smugglers would love," Alan said with a grin, as they navigated the rocky landscape and jumped stone to stone over icy creeks down to the beach.

    To be continued ....

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  • 3rd Training walk - three times up and down Mount Kaukau/Tarikaka

      2 December 2023
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    This challenge has become a favourite during the preparation for previous Sea to Skyline charity walks. Three times up and down Mount Kaukau on a near 4km circuit, 800m in height gain overall – great for building up leg stamina which is much needed for those 42kms. A smaller group than usual took on the challenge with others running/walking for MND, competing in X-fit comps, or watching them, or otherwise committed on the family and Christmas shopping front. Some just slept in and cried off, prioritising recovery time in their graduated training schedule.

    Setting off around 8.15am after a bit of chin wag and some faffing about sun hats, nine of us climbed the steep, rugged path up behind Khandallah Pool, which was open for its first day of summer, and reached the trig around 9am. After the obligatory team photo we descended down the main path back down to Khandallah Park. And then we did it all again, and again. The third climb was pretty tough on the calfs and higher up bits and it was great to reach the lookout for the third time knowing there was no more up!

    The red Parkinson’s NZ t-shirts are attracting a lot of interest and we need to make more of these fundraising opportunities by having some fliers on hand to give to people. The first back to the Café du Parc took only 3 hours and this now stands as a challenge time for others in the group that have yet to complete the Kaukau three-peat.

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  • 2nd training walk - 25kms - taking on the infamous Tip Track

      19 November 2023
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    Damp misty conditions greeted the 16 of the group that started today's walk at Brooklyn Turbine and we spent much of the morning slightly disorientated in low cloud as we navigated our way along to the Radome and then down to the coast at Red Rocks. Our strikingly bright red Parkinson's NZ tshirts were hidden under raincoats. There was some disgruntlement that Radome Track descended so steeply only to climb almost half way back up again before falling again to the coast. There was further muttering when the coffee cart at Owhiro Bay car park was closed on arrival. But this all builds resilience and fortified by an early lunch the team quickly headed off to the excellent Beach House Cafe for a much needed caffeine boost. Suitably energised we quickly reached Island Bay, our final destination on the big day, and then headed back towards Brooklyn. Between us and the cars was the infamous Tip Track, a 3km 400m ascent back up to the Hawkins Hill road. A challenge in its own right, starting the climb after having already walked 18kms was going to test the team's stamina. With jetplanes consumed, and for some, caffeine capsules, we set off at a decent pace. The only way to knock off these hills is to just keep going, starting again after stopping is worse. It was a tough old climb and it was a relief to reach the road for a gentle stroll back to the car park.

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  • First training walk - 24kms Skyline there and back again

      5 November 2023
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    Three months to the marathon is a good time to start training. Today 20 or so of the group completed the first training walk from Khandallah Park up to Mount Kaukau/Tarikaka and all the way along Skyline Walkway and back again. Spirits were high throughout apart from some minor hangry behaviour when lunch was moved up the hill for a better view! 24kms for the first walk, with over 1000m heigh gain, is a great start and everyone was heartened to complete more than half a marathon (42kms being the full distance) with something left in the tank. Shout out to Cafe du Parc whose coffee got us started in the morning and then 6 hours later on her return for a wide variety of cold things - cornettos, iced coffee, ice lollies etc. Second training walk in two weeks time but need to keep up the training in between.

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    • 30/11/2023 by Sharon

      How can I join the walk please?

    • 30/11/2023 by Sea to Skyliners

      We're pretty much at our maximum numbers Sharon but if you email steve_tribe@yahoo.co.uk with the reasons for your interest, motivation etc then we'll see how numbers are looking