Thumbs out for Cure Kids
There was no time for thinking when Jared Kennedy and Kyle Pourau decided to walk the length of New Zealand.
The Tokoroa duo have made it their mission to raise $7000 for the Cure Kids hitch-hiking challenge.
The challenge is to travel from Auckland to Queenstown with only $10 in their pockets.
During the event, racers also wear a costume.
And this year the pair will traipse down the country dressed as muppets.
Kennedy said not only does it fit in with the child- driven fundraiser but it is also a way to be recognised.
‘‘ It’s real good for raising awareness about the struggles children face, if you are dressed as giant muppets people are obviously going to wonder what it is,’’ he said
It may sound difficult on its own but Kennedy and Pourau also have a series of tasks to complete on the way.
And they have no idea how strenuous they might be.
All they are focusing on is the next three months of raffles and pub quizzes.
‘‘We’ve got no idea, we were asked if we wanted to know but we will just fundraise first and ask questions later,’’ Kennedy said.
It has been ‘‘crazy’’ over the past two months and they have already raised $2000, he said.
‘‘We started up the page [on Facebook] and by that night I think that we raised like $1300.’’
They have set their sights on first place but nothing will compare to their contributions to the children.
‘‘You can place but at the end of the day it’s about the children,’’ he said.
Kennedy who works with youth at Te Wananga had no hesitations when he was asked by Pourau.
‘‘I’ve always just had a passion for helping people,’’ he said.
And there is no one else he would rather do it with than his close friend.
‘‘He’s just a happy-go-lucky person,’’ he said.
Kennedy said Pourau is up for anything and there are not many things he has not done.