ASB staff will be getting out of the office and rolling up their sleeves for local charities and communities following
this month’s ASB Auckland Marathon.
As part of ASB’s sponsorship of the event, for every minute run by registered entrants, the bank is donating a minute of
staff time to support local initiatives.
The event is expected to tally up thousands of hours of volunteer time which ASB staff will use over the course of next
year volunteering at charities and supporting community projects.
ASB head of community and sponsorship Mark Graham says the one-for-one idea was a great fit for the bank, which has a
number of sponsorships across New Zealand.
“ASB staff already help support a number of charities, whether it be volunteering on area committees or as a caring
caller for St John, or helping on cook nights at Ronald McDonald Houses around the country,” Graham says.
“Giving back to the community is a huge part of our culture at ASB, and we love the idea of involving all of the
dedicated runners at this year’s marathon so that their progress and success will also help local communities to get
ahead. Regardless of where they come in the ASB Auckland Marathon, be it first or last, everyone who signs up and
participates will be giving back.”
As part of the project, every minute run by registered participants in any distance of the marathon event will be
matched by ASB staff, so that if a registered entrant runs four hours, ASB staff will put four hours towards a charity
or community initiative.
An internal ASB team will decide how the hours will be allocated, and to which initiatives.
To be eligible, participants have to sign up at asbmarathoneffort.co.nz and complete their allocated distance, whether it be the full, half, 12km, 5km or kids run.
“This is a huge commitment from our team, dedicating thousands of hours to worthy causes, but we’re really excited about
it and about the difference we can make to local communities around the country,” Graham says.
ASB is in its fifth year of sponsoring the event which will also include a wheelchair category for the first time.
ASB Auckland Marathon race director Adam McDonald says the idea is one that will resonate with those taking part.
“All great events look to leave a legacy in the communities in which they take part in and the ASB Auckland Marathon
does that in many ways, most notably the Charity Hero Programme supported by ASB which raises over one million dollars a
year,” McDonald says.
“ASB’s ‘minute-for-minute’ will impact directly on the wider Auckland region throughout the year. It is also a wonderful
chance for every participant to contribute, knowing that each minute they are out there enjoying the event, is a minute
that ASB will be out making a difference in the community over the coming year – who knows, it might actually slow a few
people down towards the finish line.”
The 2018 ASB Auckland Marathon will take place on Sunday 28 October with entrants running the full ASB Auckland
Marathon, the Barfoot and Thompson Half Marathon, the John West Tuna 12km Traverse, the Fitbit 5km Challenge or the
Barfoot and Thompson Kids Marathon.
For more information about ASB please visit www.asb.co.nz
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