Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids Raises over $170,000

October 7 2005: The Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids has raised more than $170,000 for medical research which will help fund the launch of a national screening programme for inherited heart diseases.

The event which involved 44 competitors racing from Auckland to Queenstown on just $10, finished outside the Sofitel Hotel in Queenstown this afternoon, ending with a battle between the two Telecom teams.

While the women's team Tia Te Wake and Jane Hulme representing Telecom Orb Communications was first across the line in Queenstown, just four minutes ahead of Will Graham and Simon Wilson of Team Telecom Yellow Pages, the men's team was the overall winner of the race.

Second overall was the team of Rex Mills and Roger Wimsett who won both the first legs of the race and attracted a lot of attention around the country dressed as Fred and Barney. The Telecom girls Jane and Tia were third overall.

Overall placings were calculated by finish positions in each of the three stages - Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown - as well as points gained in the challenges held throughout the country.

The finish line in Queenstown was a buzz of activity as teams raced into the resort to complete the race. But the most innovative entrance was made by Graeme Heenan of Queenstown and Angus Small of Wellington, who dressed as Elvis and Priscilla rolled into town in the back of a car with no less than Shrek the Sheep sitting between them.

The pair had persuaded Shrek's owner John Perriam of Bendigo Station to bring them on the final leg along with Shrek the Cure Kids ambassador.

Competitors were ecstatic about the race and the amount of money they had jointly raised. Many have indicated they want to return next year and Cure Kids general manager Thelma French says there is no doubt the field will be a lot larger.

"There is so much enthusiasm and they all have friends who are desperate to be part of the action next year. We are absolutely overwhelmed at the energy of the competitors and the support from people around New Zealand who have helped make the race such a success."

Cure Kids CEO Kaye Parker says the money raised by the event, which is the first time it has been staged by Cure Kids, is outstanding.

"It has exceeded all our expectations and it means that added to our other fundraising sources we can now help launch a vital national screening programme in a bid to prevent sudden death in young people."

The national screening programme will be spearheaded by paediatric cardiologist Dr Jon Skinner and the Cardiac Inherited Diseases Group and will be launched immediately.

"The programme will allow Dr Skinner's team to diagnose the long QT gene in young sudden death victims. If the gene is found then family members who are also at risk of dying suddenly can be tested. if they test positive medication is available which means lives can be saved immediately."

The race is sponsored by Accor Hotels and Resorts , Fairfax NZ ,More FM, Telecom and Rebel Sport.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: THELMA FRENCH CURE KIDS GM 0275 414 182 OR JENNY MCLEOD CURE KIDS MEDIA 021 357173 OR 0800 500 499

Accor $10 Race Moves South

October 6 2005: Competitors in the Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids had to contend with rough conditions on the Cook Strait ferry crossing today but they all arrived in Picton in high spirits, many of them raising money during the three hour trip for Cure Kids.

Forty four competitors are racing from Auckland to Queenstown on just $10 each to raise funds for Cure Kids for medical research into life threatening illnesses. A target of $150,000 has been set and the money is earmarked for a national screening programme for inherited cardiac diseases.

Cure Kids general manager Thelma French says competitors raised over $600 this morning on the ferry crossing working in the kitchen, face painting and busking.

"The Interislander's management fed the contestants with hot chips and icecream which was gratefully received."

Most of the teams managed to organise rides before leaving the ferry although some who were a bit slow off the mark had to hunt round Picton before hitching a lift.

Once teams arrived in Christchurch they had to undergo a series of challenges including collecting a gambling chip from the Christchurch casino, a menu from Dux de Lux, produce a sketch of the Town Hall water fountain and raise $10 by busking in the Christchurch Square.

Yesterday's first team into Wellington Rex Mills and Roger Wimsett, aka Fred and Barney, were the first to complete the challenges in Christchurch and check into the Base Backpackers in the Square.

Will Graham and Simon Wilson from Team Telecom Yellow Pages were second across the finish line. The pair have been frantically fundraising since the event began and have been encouraging people to donate on their fundraising on line website to take their tally today to $20, 700.

However Paul Forno of NZ Post who is racing because his son has Type 1 diabetes has taken his personal total to $25,680 which still puts him in front in the fundraising stakes.

Third placed team today is the Telecom girls team Tia Te Wake and Jane Hulme of Telecom Orb Communications.

Cure Kids ambassador Beccy Dixon who suffers from cystic fibrosis, and her partner Hamish MacKenzie made it into Christchurch at the front of the pack, after persuading a ferry passenger to drive them direct from Picton to Christchurch.

Teams have been tracked all day through their personal GPS which is also accessible on the Cure Kids website www.curekids.org.nz

There were the usual zany stories with Chelcie Wheeler and Becs Holmes of Novotel Rotorua having to sit it out in a garage while the car which they were travelling in was serviced after the brakes failed.

Graeme Heenan and Angus Small impersonating Elvis and Priscilla say today has been like 'the tortoise and the hare' tale for them after they climbed aboard a campervan on the ferry. The pair were exhausted after a late night last night when they returned to Levin from Wellington to hunt for their lost GPS.

"We searched under bushes in the pouring rain and couldn't find it and didn't get back to Wellington until 1.00am this morning," says Elvis. "Consequently Priscilla has been asleep in the back of the campervan all day!"

The contestants stay in Christchurch tonight and set off on the final leg to Queenstown tomorrow morning after carrying out a challenge in Cathedral Square.

En route to Queenstown there will be a challenge at Bendigo Station in Central Otago. Any teams that do not complete challenges are penalised.

The first competitors are expected across the finish line at the Sofitel Hotel in Queenstown mid afternoon tomorrow.

Throughout the race competitors will continue to fundraise and the Cure Kids fundraising line 0900 42873 ($10 donation) will operate. Text donations can also be made - Text Go to 2873 ($3 donation)

Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids provides Intense Competition

October 5 2005: There was a tight tussle for first place on the first leg of the Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids from Auckland to Wellington today with the winners Rex Mills and Roger Wimsett arriving into the capital just before 5.00pm.

Forty four competitors are racing from Auckland to Queenstown on just $10 in a bid to raise $150,000 for vital medical research into children's life threatening illnesses.

The race began in Auckland at 7.00am today with competitors taking part in a challenge , which involved carrying jaffas on a spoon, before hitting the road to hitch their way south Luckiest pair were Cure Kids ambassador Beccy Dixcon who suffers from cystic fibrosis and Hamish MacKenzie - "we lost the challenge but we won the ride in a smart BMW which got us out of town and well on the way."

Later the pair won a ride in another BMW from Taupo. "That was a lucky draw so how lucky can you get," says Beccy.

Competitors encountered bad weather most of the way with many caught out in torrential rain around the Taupo and Turangi area. But reports from all the teams are that they are having an incredible experience, and getting huge support from people who are in many cases, driving them well out of their way.

Trans Atlantic rower Rob Hamill and his race partner former Winter Olympian Angela Edmond were taken from Auckland to Hamilton by a driver who had only planned to drop them on the outskirts of Auckland. "We also ended up in a series of police cars and then a young guy's father offered to pay his petrol to take us from Palmerston North to Wellington."

Competitors each have a GPS which helps organisers keep track of everyone en route. The technology means their progress is being tracked on the Cure Kids website (www. curekids.org.nz) and it is being updatd half hourly during the event.

The team of Angus Small and Graeme Heenan who are moving through the country dressed as Elvis and Priscilla have had their share of drama and were picked up by several police cars during the day, one of them a plain clothes car.

"We managed to leave our GPS in one of the police cars," admitted Angus who was planning to go out on the streets of Wellington tonight busking with his guitar in aid of Cure Kids.

Rex and Roger aka Fred and Barney Flintstone arrived in Wellington just ahead of Will Graham and Simon Wilson of Team Telecom Yellow Pages. The pair just beat Paul Forno of NZ Post who is racing with North Shore Times journalist Ben Watson.

Paul Forno's young son Sam suffers from Type 1 Diabetes which is the reason for Paul entering the race. He is competing against the Yellow Pages team to raise the most money during the event.

"I don't care who actually raises the most, the more we can get the better it is for Cure Kids," says Paul.

All the competitors have some incredible stories to relate - some bizarre like the visit to a frozen chicken factory by Claire Jensen and Katie Parmenter or the magician and comedian who picked up Beccy Dixon and Hamish MacKenzie . Others talk of the heartwarming support from people on the road who cannot do enough to help the event and the Cure Kids charity.

"Everyone is very upbeat about the reception they are getting from drivers who are going out of their way to help competitors, " says Cure Kids general manager Thelma French."This is what we had hoped for to help raise the profile of the charity by taking it into the heartland of New Zealand. It certainly brings out the best in everyone."

Teams became spread out as the day progressed and a number of competitors are not expected in to Wellington until later this evening. En route everyone had to carry out separate challenges in Taupo and Palmerston North set by More FM radio stations.

In Taupo they had to fish for bottles in a paddling pool and in Palmerston North sing a duet on radio before travelling on. Penalties are applied to anyone who does not complete the challenges.

Tomorrow morning (October 6) contestants will be involved in a challenge in Wellington before making their way across Cook Strait to Christchurch. The race finishes in Queenstown on Friday (October 7)

Throughout the race competitors will continue to fundraise and the Cure Kids fundraising line 0900 42873 ($10 donation) will operate. Text donations can also be made -Text Go to 2873 ($3 donation)

The race is sponsored by Accor Hotels and Resorts , Fairfax NZ ,More FM, Telecom and Rebel Sport.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: THELMA FRENCH CURE KIDS GM 0275 414 182 OR JENNY MCLEOD CURE KIDS MEDIA 021 357173 OR 0800 500 499

Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids Set to Go!

October 4 2005: The Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids from Auckland to Queenstown starts in Auckland tomorrow with 44 competitors hitching rides through the country in a bid to raise $150,000 for vital research into children's life threatening illnesses.

Competitors who come from all over the country have to make the trip with just $10 in their pockets and no outside assistance.

Cure Kids general manager Thelma French says the competitors who will race in pairs will also be equipped with a personal GPS which will enable event organisers to keep track of everyone en route.

"Supporters can visit the Cure Kids website to see the GPS satellite tracking of competitors. All the teams' locations will be available on a detailed map and positions will be updated half hourly.

"Everyone will also carry mobile phones and there is an excellent safety plan in place. Competitors have to fill out a 'ride log' before accepting a ride during the race. There are a series of questions they must ask themselves and if they can't answer yes to them all then they can't accept the ride."

Competitors are attending a briefing in Auckland tonight and the race will kick off at 6.00 tomorrow morning outside the Novotel Ellerslie Hotel. The first of a series of challenges which they will have to undergo over the next three days will be staged.

Television personality Lana Coc-Kroft will welcome the competitors tomorrow morning, including her niece, 21-year-old Katie Parmenter who is a late entry to the race, after a contestant was forced to withdraw.

Tomorrow the race heads through Hamilton , Taupo and Palmerston North where challenges will also be held. Competitors will stay the night in Wellington at Novotel Capital Wellington and are expected to arrive anytime from 5.30pm. On Thursday (October 6) the race moves to Christchurch with the final leg to the finish in Queenstown on Friday (October 7).

The Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids is based on the original Queenstown $10 Challenge which was first held in 1993, as a dare between two Queenstown businessmen to see who could get to Auckland and back the fastest, on just $10.

Cure Kids, which raises funds for medical research into children's illnesses, now has the rights to the race and while it has been restructured the spirit remains the same.

All the competitors have fundraised $2,500 each to enter the race and most have carried out significant additional fundraising as well to help swell the overall fund.

Top fundraiser to date is Paul Forno of NZ Post in Auckland who has raised over $22,000.

Paul's young son Sam has Type 1 Diabetes and he has entered the race because of his respect for the work Cure Kids is achieving in many areas.

Paul is however facing a strong fundraising challenge from Will Graham and Simon Wilson of Team Telecom Yellow Pages whose tally is now $18,000.

Also competing is high profile Cure Kids amabassador Beccy Dixon (19) who suffers from cystic fibrosis. She is keen to put something back into Cure Kids for the support she has received.

Trans-Atlantic rower Rob Hamill and former Olympic luge rider Angela Edmond are teamed together and were motivated to enter the race to do something positive for children.

Throughout the race competitors will continue to fundraise and the Cure Kids fundraising line 0900 42873 ($10 donation) will operate. Text donations can also be made -Text Go to 2873 ($3 donation)

Ms French says there is already huge awareness around the country of the event.

"We are looking forward to widespread support as we move through New Zealand. This is a fantastic event and all the competitors have gone the extra mile for Cure Kids. The money raised will go towards a key research project into inherited cardiac diseases."

The Accor $10 Race to Cure Kids is sponsored by Fairfax NZ Ltd and More FM.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: THELMA FRENCH CURE KIDS GM 0275 414 182 OR JENNY MCLEOD CURE KIDS MEDIA 021 357173 OR 0800 500 499