SBS Bank stepping out with the Southland Marafun

SBS Bank stepping out with the Southland Marafun

Hundreds of young people are already ‘clocking up’ the kilometres around their school fields this term as they take part in the first-ever SBS Bank Southland Marafun.

Held in conjunction with the 100th year of the Ascot Park Hotel Southland Marathon, organisers have extended an invitation to everyone aged between five and 18 years to take part in Southland’s first-ever SBS Bank Marafun.

SBS Bank Invercargill manager Neil Bramley said having recently celebrated SBS Bank’s 140th anniversary, the team was delighted to get on board with the Southland Marathon in its 100th year.

“This year’s event has been designed with the whole family in mind and as a New Zealand member-owned bank we are fully committed to our customers and their communities. Like the Southland Marathon, SBS Bank has a long and proud heritage.”

The SBS Bank Southland Marafun is an exciting new event where students run the distance of their choice over a 10-week period between September and November, leaving the last two kilometres for race day on Sunday 22 November.

“We’ve enjoyed seeing the growth and success of the SBS Christchurch Marathon over the past eight years and look forward to supporting Sport Southland’s initiative and seeing the inaugural SBS Bank Southland Marafun evolve into something truly fantastic as well,” Mr Bramley said.

Sport Southland’s event manager Richard Pasco says the response from schools has been fantastic, with over 600 kids expected on the day.

Students could opt to run a full 40km marathon, a 29km hard-out run, a 19km half marathon or a first-timers 8km run over this period with the aim of “finishing” so kids of all levels and abilities could achieve, he said.

Mr Bramley said the concept was an important reinforcement of life skills for young people with valuable messages pertaining to fitness, emotional learning and achievement.

“We know there are a lot of children registered through their schools and we look forward to joining their proud families on marathon day to cheer them on as they run into Surrey Park and down through the finishing chute to complete their own personal SBS Bank Marafun.”

ENDS

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