Mitre 10 celebrates 10th year of Mega Walk

Mitre 10 Mega, Hastings, owner and managing director Graeme Ricketts and CanTeen support co-ordinator Kerrie Waby promote next weekend's 10th Mega Walk. Photo/Duncan Brown

The Mega Walk is celebrating its 10th year, after Hawke's Bay Mitre 10 gave the fundraiser its start in 2008.

Mitre 10 Mega Napier and Hastings managing director Graeme Ricketts said it was inspired by an Auckland event, which also raised money for charities.

"It started because we had seen the Auckland Round the Bays event and we thought we could bring that to Hawke's Bay."

The distance between Hastings and Napier was ideal, he said, because it is only slightly longer than a half-marathon.

The funds raised from registrations and sponsorship have been given to CanTeen since 2011.

"This is our seventh year with CanTeen and they're just a fantastic organisation to work with," Mr Ricketts said.

The team at Mitre 10 Mega wanted to support a charity that received no government funding and where funds would be kept in Hawke's Bay, he said, and CanTeen fit the bill.

The Mega Walk has been getting bigger and better since the first event in 2008, he added.

"The number of entrants has grown every year."

Last year's turnout was the highest to date, despite the walk clashing with an All Blacks test match.

Mr Ricketts was hoping for 2000 entrants this year. Last year's target was 1500.

The first Mega Walk in 2008, which raised money for the Child Cancer Foundation, attracted 450 people.

The number of entrants doubled from 2010 to 2011, with 1274 entrants in the 2011 Mega Walk.

Mitre 10 advertising and events co-ordinator Pip George said this year's event had already attracted plenty of attention on social media.

Some special events were planned at the finish line to celebrate the 10th anniversary, including live music and face painting for kids.

Mitre 10 staff member George Grant's story of doing an alternative Mega Walk on a treadmill showed how supportive people were, Mr Ricketts said.

"That's indicative of the support we've got for the event inside and outside the organisation."

Mr Grant decided to complete the 28km Mega Walk on a treadmill before the main event, because it clashed with his wedding anniversary. He did the walk in 2015 and 2016.

He told Hawke's Bay Today he knew four checkout operators from Mitre 10 Mega in Hastings where he worked would also be taking part.

Mr Ricketts said his main role in the event was to ensure "everything goes smoothly on the day", and sometimes there were last-minute issues.

"You never know quite what the weather will do."

The MetService forecast for Sunday, November 5, was for a few showers in Hastings, and mostly cloudy with some sun in Napier.

Four walks of different lengths would feature this year:

The Mega Walk - 28km, leaving from Mitre 10 Mega Hastings at 7.30am and finishing at Mitre 10 Mega Napier. The course and finish line close at 1.30pm.

The Half Mega - 15km starting at Awatoto at 9am and finishing at Mitre 10 Mega Napier. The average time to complete was 2.5 hours.

The Short Mega - 6.5km starting from behind Ocean Spa on Marine Parade at 10.30am. Average time to complete was 1.5 hours.

The Mega Meander - 3.5km starting at Perfume Point Ahuriri at 11am. Average time to complete was 1 hour.

Entry fees:
Adults (age 16+) $20
Children (under 15) and seniors (65+) $10
Family (2 adults, 2 children) $40
Team of 4 $60
Under-5s free

All proceeds go to CanTeen Hawke's Bay.