Students take on Tough Guy challenge

More than 100 graduates of the youth Cactus programme will come together this weekend to take on the Tough Guy and Gal Challenge.

Cactus - the Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit and Support programme - is designed to extend a young person's mind and physical capability, with a focus on teamwork, goal setting, leadership and discipline.

According to organisers it aims to give instil discipline and self esteem into young people encouraging them to look and listen before they act and increasing their future opportunities.

The programme which was initially developed and launched by a police officer on the East Coast now operates in a number of locations around New Zealand.

Sergeant Steve Sutton is involved in the programme in Rotorua along with his colleagues on the Western Heights Neighbourhood Policing Team.

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Mr Sutton decided a good follow-up to the programme would be to bring graduates from different areas together for a team challenge.

Five teams from the Bay of Plenty and Waikato have taken up the opportunity with about 140 young people aged 16 to 18 taking part.

Those taking part are from Te Puke, Hamilton, Rotorua Taupo and Murupara.

"It's another opportunity to share an experience of the ethos of what Cactus is all about," Mr Sutton said.

"It's also an opportunity for the young people who have gone through the programme to meet up again and catch up on where life is taking them."

The idea has been supported by Event Promotions who run the Tough Guy and Gal Challenge along with a number of community groups.

Each team's overall time will be based on the average of the fastest and slowest male and female in each team.

There will be a trophy for the winning team and a barbecue laid on for everyone taking part.