Lisa Gifkins and Kaula Gibby, from Ōhaupō Sports Netball were all smiles as they made their way around the field. Photo: Jeremy Smith.
Participants who got their walking and running shoes on at Ōhaupō’s inaugural Walk to Talk 12-hour relay on Saturday clocked up nearly 870 collective kilometres.
The event was held to raise funds for I Am Hope, a charity founded by mental health advocate Mike King.
As The News went to print, the still-increasing total had topped $1600.
All told, 13 teams of between two and 20 members lined up for an early bird start time of 7am at the lower field at Ōhaupō Community Sport and Recreation Centre and – despite patchy rain at times – by day’s end they had logged
2289 laps.
The fastest of those was 52 seconds, while the Ōhaupō School netball team completed the most laps, covering more than 100km.
Organiser Lawrence Wilkinson was delighted.
“This is exactly how I had imagined I wanted it to be. It was fantastic to see everyone
out here supporting such a great cause.”
Wilkinson said he would now love to see the walk and run become an annual event, and had already set his sights.
on next year.
“This is a wonderful foundation to build from.”
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- Midland Cardio-Vascular Services team members Irene Gray, Denise Rannala and Mandi Taylor complete another lap on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Smith
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- Participants log another lap when crossing the start line. Photo: Jeremy Smith
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- Walk to Talk organiser Lawrence Wilkinson clocks up some steps of his own. Photo: Jeremy Smith
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- Connor Moore wizzes past The News’ camera as he sets an early pace around the track. Photo: Jeremy Smith
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- Some of Saturday’s participants make their way around the field at Ōhaupō Community Sport and Recreation Centre during the whole-team lap. Photo: Jeremy Smith
