hamish-on-the-boat

 

Blog by Rachel Grunwell: Blogger, marathoner, Good magazine’s wellness columnist + smoothie chick & yoga teacher. Follow her via Inspired Health’s Facebook & Instagram for lifestyle inspo, recipes & giveaways.

 

Greg Rieger & his wife Donna are about to tackle the Rotorua Marathon event on May 6 in memory of their beloved son Hamish (pictured above – picture kindly supplied by Jamie Troughton), who tragically died after being swept off the rocks at Mt Maunganui, in the Bay of Plenty, on January 23 last year.
 
In this blog, Greg and Donna talk in their own words about why this is a heart-felt fundraising mission and there are a few ways that we can all help to support their amazing fundraiser – through cheering them on, running for the charity cause too, or kindly giving a donation (details are below). ps the latter is the easiest option 🙂
 
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Here are their heart-felt words on why they are doing the 21km distance at the Rotorua Marathon event:
“In 2015, Hamish received a scholarship from Mount Maunganui College to sail on the Spirit of Adventure. It was a life-changing experience for Hamish, who came back even more determined to become a police officer and to get fit enough to run a half-marathon (at the Rotorua Marathon event). Although Hamish sadly didn’t get to achieve those goals, his zest for life continues to inspire others, including us as his parents. We want to give back to the Spirit of Adventure Trust by running and walking 12 half-marathons in 12 months, raising money for future scholarships to send deserving students on the Spirit of Adventure. We want others to jump aboard the ‘health train’, as Hamish called it, get themselves fit and sponsored and help donate to the scholarship fund.
Please support the ‘I Ride With Hame’ fundraiser with a donation to: ASB 12-3011-0461607-52 (all money goes to The Spirt of Adventure Trust).
If you want to join the Riegers by doing the Rotorua Marathon event then you can enter now – CLICK HERE
Meanwhile, Greg and Donna want to say “a BIG thank you” to those who have supported them by raising $700 to date and thanks too to ASICS for sponsoring their awesome running shoes and the team’s shirts. This support means so much.
Meanwhile, Greg says training for this event has seen him turning into a healthier version of himself. He has lost a couple of kgs through running (usually to work and back if he can’t fit in a long run) and he is drinking less alcohol too because he’s so focused on training.
“I’ve become so unsociable,” he quips!
Greg says there are about 20 family and friends joining them to tackle the half marathon at Rotorua so far, but he says it would be awesome if anyone else is interested in joining them. Please contact Greg via the I Ride With Hame Facebook page to let him know if you are getting your running shoes on too. CLICK HERE
 

 

greg and hamish

Greg is pictured above during a training session at Mt Maunganui. His son Hamish (and inspiration for the fundraiser is pictured right).

Margi Mellsop, from The Spirit of Adventure Trust, has previously said that Greg and Donna’s fundraising mission is inspirational and she is so grateful the money will go to their trust.

“We are so moved by Greg and his family’s commitment to celebrate the life of Hamish in this way. Their efforts will ensure that Hamish’s spirit of adventure will be passed to other Mount Manganui teens . What an incredible legacy they are creating,” she said.

Top pic of Greg and Donna hand-in-hand was kindly supplied by marathon-photos.com

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Pic: Rachel Grunwell, who will be running the Rotorua Marathon event too, leading a blind runner as an Achilles charity ambassador.

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