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Running for Fun, Running for Good... Running for Research!

26 April 2013

SCOPE 50

Sunday 17 February marked our second year as the Official Charity Partner of the iconic Wellington event AMI Round the Bays, and our third and most successful Run for Research to date.

Despite some drizzle for those who started early for the half marathon, spirits were high at the sell-out event and the atmosphere was one of excitement, anticipation and community spirit. The Malaghan Institute Run for Research brought together people of all ages, from all walks of life and fitness levels, however a uniting feature was their motivation to get behind a great cause and support our research. Thanks to everyone who got behind the Run for Research, over an incredible $40,000 was raised!

Half Marathon winner Hamish Carson (R)

More than 250 people took part as Run for Research fundraisers with another 166 people supporting via our Limited Run for Research Entries which enabled those who missed out on registering before the event sold out to take part and support the Malaghan Institute at the same time. One such person was the event’s Half Marathon winner, Hamish Carson who finished the race in 1:08:51! Having been a short-mid distance competitive runner until AMI Round the Bays 2013, Hamish’s debut half marathon ended up being one incredible achievement. Read more about Hamish here.

Sarah Christie (L)

Another inspiring person who took part in the Run for Research was Island Bay mother of five, Sarah Christie, who eight weeks after a scary run in with a 1.2 kilogram malignant ovarian tumour, used this as a chance to get back into running and support research into diseases including cancer. Read the Dominion Post article on Sarah here.

One of the many teams who supported the Run for Research was a large family of 28, ‘Team Politi’, who raised over $2,000 through their online fundraising page. It was a family affair for a very good reason; “We have all heard of friends, distant family members, people you know or went to school with being hit by cancer, some with good outcomes and others losing the battle. But when it hits closer to home, like our beloved family member who has recently been diagnosed with a highly aggressive brain tumour (GBM) we want to find a cure.”

Some of the 28 strong Team Politi Running for Research

Congratulations to our Top Fundraisers:

Top Individuals: Jason Pine - $1,865, Victoria Hale - $1,570, Darci Thompson - $1,180
Top Teams: Malaghan Staff - $8,303, The Woodsides - $2,970, Gilling Me Softly - $2,195

Malaghan Ambassadors Jason Pine and Melissa Moon

The Run for Research received some great promotion through a fantastic looking Run for Research branded Lexus RX SUV that was out on the streets of Wellington, thanks to Lexus of Wellington and Z Energy. It also received great backing by Malaghan Ambassadors, world-renowned runner Melissa Moon, Newstalk ZB radio DJ Jason Pine and sports reporter and athlete Meghan Mutrie. Jason even made a bet on air that he could beat the 22 minutes Melissa could do 7km in by knocking off one minute for every $100 he raised. After receiving training advice from Melissa, not only was Jason was the top fundraiser, raising over $1,300, he completed the fun run in a personal best of 30:28 – beating Melissa by over five minutes!

It is thanks to our ongoing partnership with AMI Insurance and Sport Wellington that we have this valuable opportunity to connect with the community and to raise awareness of the Malaghan Institute, while providing a way for people to make a difference by fundraising in support of our research. We are humbled by the enthusiasm and dedication of the individuals and teams who took part in the Run for Research and the support of those in the community who donated. Thank you to everyone involved in making the 2013 Run for Research such a great success!

 

If you would like to find out more about the Run for Research or are keen to take part in 2014 please email [email protected] or contact Victoria Hale on 04 4996914 ext. 821.

 

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