Event: Neon Night Walk/ Run 4 Good magical bush walk for Charity
Walking in the bush at night is pretty magical but something most people don’t do. A new and inspiring event – Neon Night Walk in the Colonial Knob/ Rangatuhi Reserve, Porirua is about to change that, on 27 October 2018 with participants choosing a charity to fund raise for and the distance they want to walk or run, all in beautiful bush.
It’s Halloween season so an excuse to dress up in neon and a way for older kids to do good instead of trick and treating. Definitely a walk with a difference.
The event is held on a stunning 8 km loop walk in Rangituhi Reserve, with people able to opt to walk or run, 1, 2 or 3 loops, conquering Colonial Knob on the way.
The beautiful loop was recently completed by Porirua City Council and features a 1.8km climb of several sets of steps along a stream valley in glorious Nikau forest. Then a gradual 6.8km gradual zig zag down through a forest of kohekohe, tawa and rewarewa.
At the top you’ll think you’ve sprouted wings, from this lofty perch you can view the Kaikoura Range in the south and Mt Taranaki in the north-west with Mana and Kapiti Islands on the seaward
side.
You are able to start between 5.30pm and 7pm so most will reach the top by dusk, with sunset for those at the top at 7.40pm.
Having three options; to walk 8 kms ,16 km or run 24 km means it is accessible to a wide range of people but also offers a challenge to keen walkers and trial runners.
You can register at neonnightwalk. co.nz choosing either one of the seven partner charities; Save The Children, Heart Kids, Dementia Wellington, Mental Health Foundation, Arthritis NZ, Healthy Futures, Life Flight and get a discounted entry fee or you can select a charity of YOUR choice and pay the standard entry.
Jill Ford the organiser says “There are 27,000 registered charities in NZ, that’s one charity per 170 people in New Zealand! Kiwi’s are big hearted generous folk’s but the numbers make it very hard for charities to raise funds.”
Event fundraising is huge overseas, it’s been a major success for charities to engage with their supporters and grow community as well as funds, says Jill
In 2015 the events fundraising market in the UK raised more than $51m equiva- lent to New Zealand per capita.
She said “New Zealand charities lag behind because they’re small and creating an event is expensive and time consuming.”
To help charities raise funds through events Ms.Ford is planning a series of events starting with the Neon Night Walk on October 27. For more info: Neonnightwalk.co.nz