Marathon efforts to honour lost son
Parents of a teenager lifesaver who drowned nearly a year ago have planned a 252km fundraising journey in his memory.
Hamish Rieger, 17, was swept off the rocks near the blowhole at Moturiki Island in the Bay of Plenty on January 23.
Parents Greg and Donna Rieger hope to raise $12,000 from 12 halfmarathons to fund a Spirit of Adventure scholarship for Mt Maunganui teenagers.
Greg says Hamish’s Spirit of Adventure experience in 2015 inspired him to work on his fitness and pursue his ambitions to a higher level.
They hope to gift that same opportunity to other local teenagers through the fundraiser.
‘‘He was always the kid who embraced life but he came back from the Spirit of Adventure more mature, with his heart opened, and a commitment to living life to the full every day … For that, we are forever grateful and want to give kids from his community the chance to have the same life-changing experience,’’ says Greg.
The Rotorua Marathon on May 6 will be especially significant. Hamish had entered it this year, but he died before he could run it.
Instead, Greg and Donna quietly completed it in his place, walking hand-in-hand and shedding more tears than sweat.
Hamish’s siblings Oliver, 22, Fergus, 20, and Eliza-Jane, 15 and about 30 friends will join them in Rotorua in May.
Greg says Hamish would be proud of their efforts. The teenager gave a lot back to his community as a Mt Maunganui lifeguard and the Riegers remain involved with the service.
He says the half-marathons will help the family move through their grief as they experience milestones Hamish misses.
This month, Greg and Donna were invited to attend Mt Maunganui College’s 2016 graduation ceremony. Greg says it was tough not seeing his son graduate, but he was honoured to receive the certificate.
The parents are expecting the January 23 anniversary to be tough too. But the fundraiser will help them move through their pain and celebrate Hamish’s life.