An inaugural tournament in Auckland for a new hybrid sport has drawn celebrity entrants seeking fun - while raising awareness about teenage problems.
Turbo touch marketing director Julie Monaghan says turbo touch has been running about 18 months and has reached a stage where players are seeking more challenges.
"We've been running
competitions in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Napier and Wellington over the past 18 months and teams have always asked us when they could play against other turbo touch teams," she says.
At the same time, Ms Monagahan says the fledgling sport wanted to use the attention turbo touch has been receiving to do some good.
"We want to do something for a cause we felt touched our organisation and with the number of youth we have playing touch we felt this was the opportunity to raise some awareness.
"Teenage suicide is a real problem in New Zealand and we want to raise as much awareness and money as we can for them. The more people that come to the event, the more money we can raise for them and that's why so many celebrities have gotten involved as many have teenage children themselves."
Turbo touch has origins in touch however it also brings in skills and components from other sports such as netball, basketball, American football and it's predominately played indoors on a basketball court. It can be played mixed and with adults and kids.
Currently confirmed (with more to come) are:
Glen Osbourne
Karl Te Nana
Mark Mayerhoffler
Eroni Clarke
Ofisa Tonu'u
Keri Ropati
Emma Keeling
Tamati Coffy
Frano Botica
Frank Bunce
Tammy Davis
Beatrice Faumuina
Celebrity Turbo Touch Tournament, Sunday, May 1 at The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere. Funds raised with go to Suicide Prevention Information NZ for at-risk teenagers.
For more info, see www.turbotouch.co.nz
