Kāpiti Run for Youth Goes Virtual Wraps in Recognition of Youth Week

The Shed Project reps check in as part of the Kāpiti Run for Youth.

Richard Calkin, founder of Web Genius, says Kāpiti Run for Youth is excited to be wrapping it’s 2020 virtual event and to be announcing its result during ‘Youth Week’, a nationwide festival that runs from 9 to 17 May to celebrate the talents, passion and success of young people.
Mr Calkin says the aims of this festival align with the underlying inception of Kāpiti Run for Youth back in 2011 which continues to be relevant for us today. “We have closed the event with a total of $20,583 in the bank which is only $114 less than what we raised in 2019.
“Before we went into Alert Level 4, we made a decision to quickly reposition the event to take place virtually while New Zealand was in lockdown. We did this to encourage participation in a fun and healthy community event during a challenging and unprecedented time for all New Zealanders so we could continue to raise funds for Kāpiti youth-based causes.”
He says everyone participating was asked to do it alone or within their bubble and to walk or run in their own neighbourhood, using common sense and the 2m social distancing rule. “We are proud that our decision to go virtual has paid-off and will benefit many young people in our community.
Campaign Manager, Helene Judge says “One of the main reasons we persevered with the event in this format, apart from wanting an event to go viral rather than you know what, was to provide an alternative way for people to come together as a community at a time when coming together in the traditional way was not an option for us. Before lockdown we managed to print and set-up more signs around Paraparaumu Beach as we asked all participants to take photos at any of these locations and to post to a pinned post on our Facebook page.
“The outcome is quite extraordinary, before lockdown we had raised around $15,000 through a business sponsorship campaign and a fundraising collection at Coastlands earlier in March. During lockdown we raised more than $5,000 which is quite remarkable and humbling,” says Helene. We had many local people and even a couple with links to Kāpiti who have lived in London for the last 20 years taking part.”
Mr Calkin says the fundraising model focuses on returning as much money as we can back to the Kāpiti community to those working with youth. “This means, all funds raised are split 70% to the official Fundraising Partner chosen by the participant at the time of registration and 30% is retained towards running and promotion of the event.”

Fundraising Partners will shortly be receiving a payment to their bank account for: