Length of NZ Runner Reaches South Island

Mathew runs the Desert Road.

Media Release 18 April 2012

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ONE ISLAND DOWN, ONE TO GO

Length of New Zealand Runner Mathew Broad Reaches South Island

23-year-old Cantabrian Mathew Broad reaches the South Island today to complete the final 15 days of his North to South Charity Challenge.

Mathew is running the length of New Zealand in a 35 day adventure, which started in Cape Reinga on 31 March and finishes in Bluff on 4 May, to fundraise for St John. Each day Mathew runs between 51 and 83 kilometres, covering a total distance of 2298 kilometres.

To date Mathew has run 1137kms, visited 14 SUBWAY® stores, gone through 2 pairs of Asics shoes, consumed 32 energy bars and raised over $18,000 for St John.

Highlights for Mathew include an anonymous $10,000 donation and being joined by Feilding local Perry Newburn (who ran from Auckland to Christchurch in 2011 to raise money for the earthquake appeal) between Palmerston North and Feilding.

Today Mathew will be joined by multisport legend and five time Coast to Coast winner Richard Ussher who will run with him for his Picton to Blenhiem leg.

“I’m stoked to be running with Richard,” says Mathew. “He’s been a real inspiration to me and shared heaps of advice before I started this journey. I’m just hoping I’ll be able to keep up with him!”

With over 1000 more kilometres to run, Mathew is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

“I’ve met so many amazing people, seen some breath-taking scenery and fought some pretty nasty weather too,” adds Mathew. “It’s been an incredible journey so far and I’m so grateful to all of my sponsors and my awesome support team. I know my Grandad would be really proud.”

Mathew aims to raise $30,000 for St John, a charity he is supporting to continue the legacy left behind by his late grandfather Russell Hodges. The money will be used to used to support the charitable work of St John including the ambulance service, community initiatives such as free transport to medical appointments for those who need it and the friendship telephone service Caring Caller. Mathew is fundraising through a combination of corporate and personal sponsorship from friends, family and supporters within the communities he passes.

Sponsors of Matthew’s challenge include SUBWAY® restaurants, Asics, One Square Meal, Choice Hotels, Directions Advertising, Feet n Motion, Anytime Fitness, GIB, Placemakers, Resene, United Industries, Webfreak, James Hardies, Gen-I, RTFM and Linton Contracting and Matthew’s employer Stonewood Homes where he works as a draftsman. Stonewood Homes is providing a support vehicle for the duration of his challenge and is continuing to pay Matthew as he runs, with his wages going back into the event.

For more information on the Running North 2 South Challenge and how you can join or support Mathew visit www.runningnorth2south.co.nz

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

About St John

All around New Zealand, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – St John members care for communities, help people in medical and accident emergencies, and relieve sickness and injury.

Last year St John attended over 336,000 emergency incidents and treated and transported more than 396,000 patients – 6.6% more than in the previous year.

St John is a charity relying on support from the community to help fund services to improve the health and well-being of New Zealanders - including Youth programmes, Friends of the Emergency Department volunteers providing comfort to patients in hospital emergency departments, Caring Caller telephone friendship service to support isolated people and Health Shuttles to get people to medical appointments.

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