Pork Pie Run proves popular
ANYONE wanting a place on the Pork Pie Charity Run that retraces the tyre tracks of the Kiwi movie classic Goodbye Pork Pie will have to wait at least another two years.
Next year’s biennial sixday event is already sold out.
Sixty Minis will sweep down the country next Easter in the spirit of the hit film.
Those participating will follow the film’s route from Kaitaia to Invercargill to raise money for the KidsCan organisation that supports 171,000 New Zealand children.
The event is growing in popularity and the 60 available registrations sold out in just minutes last month.
The road trip will cover 2500km and confront the worst of New Zealand’s potholes and mountain passes, all in the spirit of Goodbye Pork Pie.
However, participant and previous event organiser Annie Hemsley, of One Tree Point, near Whangarei, said the biggest challenge the Mini drivers would face was simply making it from Kaitaia to Invercargill.
Mrs Hemsley and husband Murray have organised the past five Pork Pie Charity Run events and next year they are driving the length of New Zealand as participants only.
They began the event with Rod Harris, another Mini Cooper owner, in 2009 after Mr Hemsley drove his new Mini from Dunedin, following the reverse Goodbye Pork Pie route.
The charity run was a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mini Cooper’s introduction and raise money for a deserving cause.
The past five charity runs combined have raised more than $900,000. Mrs Hemsley said she would love next year’s event to crack $1 million raised. — NZME