Wellingtonians and rural healthcare colleagues will walk and run to raise the profile of rural general practice and fundraise for the Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust’s work when the annual Pat Farry Trust Fun Run + Walk takes place on the Wellington Waterfront on March 15, 2014.

The Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust Fun Run + Walk will be held in association with the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network’s (NZRGPN) during their annual conference in Wellington, 13-16 March, 2014.

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

Bright emerald green clad participants will take to the waterfront to complete a 5km or 10 km course, raising monies through their own sponsorship efforts and koha entry. Organisers hope to repeat the success of the 2013 event in Rotorua where participation more than doubled from the previous year. More than 180 walkers and runners raised $3,500 for the Trust.

While the organisers face the challenge that the event it is in a different location annually, as a result of the Trust’s work it has a network of supporters New Zealand-wide. Since its founding in 2010, ten medical students have benefitted from the Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust’s scholarship programme which supports travel to offshore rural healthcare learning situations.

The Trust is based in the late Dr Farry’s hometown of Queenstown and has links to the University of Otago School of Medicine where he taught. Scholarship recipient’s own home and learning bases represent much of rural and urban New Zealand and include Auckland, Thames, Tauranga, Ngatea, Matamata, Dannevirke, Masterton Paraparaumu, Wellington, Blenheim, Greymouth, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Balclutha, and Glenorchy.

Organiser Simone Flight said that the Trust is thankful for the support that the event is receiving so far.

“The WCC events team could not have been more helpful, pre-entries by conference attendees is strong, local café Ti Kouka is our Wellington HQ and amongst others, the BNZ has come on board with giveaways for the entrants.”

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
Simone Flight (Sponsors, Media)
Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust
www.PatFarryTrust.co.nz
Email:
Tel: 021 1656 218

Sharon Aitken (Entrants, Community Organisations)
Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust
www.PatFarryTrust.co.nz
Email:
Tel: 027 293 5055