IT’S A WRAP

10 YEARS ON: Making their way up Titirangi on the final day of the Mt Everest Challenge, these participants represent the range of ages of those taking part, from toddlers in pushchairs to pensioners.Picture supplied

THE Titirangi Mt Everest Challenge was a chance for people to get fit, make friends, and raise awareness for the East Coast Cancer Society.

For the seven weeks of the challenge, 1547 participants set out to climb Titirangi maunga to complete the 68 climbs, the equivalent of the height of Mt Everest — 8849m, or 29,000 feet.

Altogether, participants climbed the maunga over 15,000 times.

The challenge finished on November 13.

Each participant had their own unique story of what the challenge meant to them.

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For some it was to raise funds and awareness for the East Coast Cancer Society to support locals living with bowel cancer. For others, it was to climb the maunga for the first time in their life or to join their friends and whānau in a team for a bit of fun and to keep active.

The Hulkfit Team topped the team leaderboard with a combined total of 3171 climbs, while the Last of the Summer Wine team, with an average age of 76 years, averaged 74 climbs each.

This year, one participant made event history. Lewy Flemming topped the individual leaderboard with a total of 420 climbs.

“After 10 years of the Titirangi Mt Everest Challenge, incredible stories and achievements continued to be recorded,” said Debbie Hutchings, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti events adviser.

“Talking with some of the individuals and teams who participated really emphasised how life-changing it can be.

“We would like to celebrate all those who took part and encourage people to continue what they have started, as this maunga and others, are here for us to enjoy 365 days of the year,” she said.

With support from Ngāti Oneone, Sean and Fiona Shivnan, the East Coast Cancer Society, the Gisborne District Council and ProTraffic, as well as local champions such as Huringa Pai, the event was able to raise awareness and funds for the East Coast Cancer Society to support locals living with bowel cancer.