Cure Kids Adventure Race Provides Tough Challenge

The 2005 Cure Kids Great Adventure Race in the Waitakere Ranges has attracted 35 corporate teams this year, almost twice the number competing in last year’s inaugural event.

The teams represent 20 companies and last year’s winner Cadburys Moro Maxed will defend its title in the race scheduled for April 8.

The adventure race is a one day multi-sport event for companies to participate in a novel fundraising campaign for Cure Kids. Last year a cheque was presented for $286,000 and with extra teams competing this year a significant amount will be raised.

Race Director Alan Nelson says the course will not be revealed until race day but he is confident competitors will find it both challenging and varied.

“It is a typical mix of dramatic coast, magnificent bush and spectacular waterways which the area is known for. The course will be longer than last year and there will be more off track and route finding sections.”

He says teams who familiarise themselves with the terrain will be the ones who achieve the best results.

“It is difficult country and not to be under-rated.”

Teams of four will compete in several disciplines including trek/running, mountain biking, coasteering and route finding.

“Last year’s teams will obviously be more experienced and the fastest will complete the course in six hours, the slowest in around 10 hours,” says Alan.

In the build up to the race a number of workshops and seminars have been run by Jon Ackland, New Zealand’s top endurance coach.

“There’s been emphasis on the physical side of the sport, technical skills, nutrition and team dynamics.

Cure Kids Business Development Director Mandy Mee says the support from key partners and other sponsors, as well as new companies joining the event this year, has been outstanding.

“They like the concept of challenging themselves and for many companies the event works as a team building and motivational exercise for staff. Not only do the competitors prepare for the race but their work colleagues become involved in fundraising activities to support Cure Kids.”

She says the growth in the number of teams is evidence of the success of the event. Some companies have entered more than one team and others have challenged business competitors to take part.

“The excitement is certainly building and we are quite overwhelmed by the level of enthusiasm.”

The companies represented are: Arnotts NZ Ltd, BMW Group, Cadbury, Cisco Systems, NZ Colliers International, DB Breweries Ltd, Frucor Beverages, Mainfreight, Master Foods, Merck Sharp and Dohme Mercure Auckland, Microsoft NZ Ltd, Nestle, Novotel Ellerslie, Novotel Tainui Hamilton, Onesource Ltd, Pfizer NZ Ltd, Philips, Team McMillan, Tech Niche, Tech Pacific,The Warehouse.

A Cure Kids team is also entered which will include Chair of Child Health Research at Otago University Professor Stephen Robertson.

Professor Robertson is a leading paediatric geneticist, who recently made a world research breakthrough when he discovered the gene which causes complex birth defects. The defects include combinations of malformations of the skeleton, holes in the heart and defects in the brain, kidneys and intestines.

His research centred round an Auckland family who have lost seven baby boys, all born with the same deformities, caused by a deadly mutation in the gene. Otago University is now the world centre for on-going research into malformations caused by the genetic defects he has highlighted.

Professor Robertson has since isolated another gene, which causes a disorder known as Larsens Syndrome where children are born with, among other things, their hips, knees and elbows dislocated.

Both discoveries have increased his international profile and his work has been published in the prestigious NATURE GENETICS.

Professor Robertson is as passionate about the outdoors as he is about his scientific role. He has been training hard around the Otago region for the past few months in preparation for the Cure Kids Great Adventure Race.

“I am looking forward to the experience of racing in this event. Not only are we raising valuable funds for research but we are competing in a race that will provide us all with some tough challenges. These are the sort of challenges our Cure Kids have to cope with every day.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

KAYE PARKER
CURE KIDS CEO
027 626 7448

MANDY MEE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
021 660 891

JENNY MCLEOD
MEDIA DIRECTOR
021 357173