Willing warriors sought for cause

RIGHT SPIRIT: All types of teams take part in the Random Acts of Kindness Warrior Run, which this year is raising money for 14-year-old Elliot Keys.PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

A fun run obstacle course has been organised to raise money for a Tauranga teen who broke his neck in a mountain-biking accident a year ago.

Elliot Keys, 14, snapped his C4 vertebrae and has been left with no movement from his shoulders down. After weeks spent in Christchurch's Burwood Spinal Unit, he is back home.

A Random Acts of Kindness Warrior Run, organised by The Gym, hopes to raise money for a customised wheelchair for Elliot.

The event is the second of its kind and will be held Saturday, June 20, at TECT all-terrain park.

The Gym team administrator, Christine Rudden, said Elliot needed about $40,000 for an electronic outdoor wheelchair.

She hoped money raised from the Warrior Run would help.

"It's all about getting as much money as we can for the cause."

Ms Rudden said last year's run raised about $5000 for a work colleague whose husband had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. "It was a really good day, with a lot of smiles."

This year, the cause was decided upon by gym members.

"We said we are going to run this event again, we just want to know of a good cause or who in our area might need our help," Ms Rudden said.

"Elliot got the lion's share of the votes. It's amazing how much people have wanted to help the cause."

Elliot was mountain-biking on an Oropi track in July last year when he came off his bike.

"It's really tragic because he was such an active and outgoing guy. It's such a tragedy that he's not able to be anymore, for now."

Before the accident, Elliot enjoyed going to the beach, diving, surfing, snowboarding and kayak-fishing.

Ms Rudden said she hoped the event would be bigger than last year and called on people to take part.

"We need people to come on the day and be a warrior," she said.

The 4km course will involve walls, ropes, sandbags, tyres, hills, and mud.

"It sounds tough for Joe Bloggs but it's not. It's about your team starting and finishing together. It's about working with your team to get over the courses," Ms Rudden said.

The event would involve teams of four at $35 per person. If people would like to take part but do not have a team, team members could be found for them. Spot prizes will be up for grabs.

-People can register for the event at The Gym, 107 1st Ave, Tauranga.

* WHAT: Random Acts of Kindness Warrior Run
* WHERE: TECT all-terrain park
* WHEN: Saturday, June 20, 11am
* WHO: Organised by The Gym, the event is open to anyone for $35pp
* WHY: To raise money for a new wheelchair for Tauranga teen Elliot Keys