Putting the fun into fundraising

Benny Gaddum has a smile on his face despite mum Kirsty Gaddum lobbing a fistful of flour at him, as he makes his way over the hay bale obstacles at Thursday’s fundraising fun run at Makaraka School. The event raised $20,000, thanks to impressive efforts from the school community, the children and sponsors. See page 5 for story and more photos. Picture by Liam Clayton

Makaraka School raised over $20,000 on Thursday, thanks to the support of sponsors, businesses and the community, with students participating in a lively and entertaining obstacle course fun run.

The event was organised by Friends of Makaraka School (FOMS),  a parents community group.

“The idea was to get the children involved with their own fundraising,” said school principal Hayden Swann.

The  children were challenged to run for at least 30 minutes non-stop around a course designed by FOMS.

They had to negotiate a water slide, hay bale obstacles and the occasional dousing with flour.

Money raised will help with the school’s activities outside the classroom, such as funding transport for a trip to the museum, and the school camp held at Lake Karapiro, in the Waikato, at the end of the year.

The whole school took part, with the students being sponsored for the number of laps they completed.

“The kids dug really deep and none of them gave up. They absolutely loved it and they enjoyed contributing to the fundraising part of it,” said Mr Swann.

To add to the frivolity, students could dress up in their house colours,  and the “weird and wonderfully dressed children added to the atmosphere of the day”, he said. The older children supported and helped the younger ones.

A number of spot prizes were presented to students who showed kindness, enthusiasm and support of others.  Parents and grandparents were asked to come along.

A popular attraction was a 22m-long bouncy castle slide which added to the festivities. A  coffee cart for the adults was also well received.

“We are really thankful for the business support that we did have, who also sponsored the children to do the laps.  It was a real community atmosphere and brought everybody together, as well as being a successful event,”  Mr Swann said.