Don’t worry if you haven’t put in as much training as you had hoped for the annual Pat Farry Trust Fun Run & Walk taking place on the Wellington Waterfront on March 15, 2014. Help will be on hand as the event will feature a pre-race warm up led by members of the New Zealand Defence Force. More than 100 rural medical professionals are expected to take part and so assistance will be close by for any muscular blow outs.

“The annual Pat Farry Trust Fun Run + Walk brings rural health care professionals and communities together in a fun, healthy way for a good cause”, said John Farry, chairman of the Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust.

Dr Aniva Lawrence from Northland brought together a team of colleagues - credit Dee Duncan

Held in association with the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network’s (NZRGPN) during their annual conference in Wellington, 13-16 March, 2014, the event sees Wellingtonians and rural healthcare colleagues walk and run to raise the profile of rural general practice and fundraise for the Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust’s work.

Organiser Simone Flight said that while the event’s emphasis is on fun, entrants making their third appearance will be taking it seriously.

“The New Zealand Defence Force led warm up will help minimize any over doing it by those who are more willing than well trained.”

Wellington and national businesses and organisations are supporting the event. Medicines New Zealand, the New Zealand Medical Association and the BNZ are sponsoring t-shirts, bags and drink bottles.”

Tiaki Pilates, Farrys Menswear, Sol Pharmacy, Reading Cinemas, La Hoods The Chemist and the Lone Star are all providing prizes for the first individuals and teams and for spot prizes at the prizegiving.

The course begins outside Shed 6 (near Fergs Kayaks) and follows a marked course around the waterfront past Te Papa, the Freyberg Pool and along Oriental Parade to a 2.5km turning point opposite Grass Street. Walkers will complete their 5km upon return to Shed 6. Runners will do the loop course loop twice to complete 10km.

Participation in the Pat Farry Trust Fun Run / Walk as an individual or in a team is by koha. Entrants can help the Trust raise funds for its work by approaching their own family and friends to sponsor their efforts and donate the proceeds to the Trust.

“Support of this event and the work of the Pat Farry Trust will ultimately contribute to the quality of rural health services in all regions of New Zealand,” said John Farry.

ENDS

Contact:

Simone Flight (Sponsors, Media)
Tel: 021 1656 218

Sharon Aitken (Entrants)
Email: