Pupils get race for life off the line

STRONG MESSAGE: Twyford School launched a Race for Survival which saw them raise awareness of child deaths in some of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged countries. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Twyford School students helped kick-start a Race for Survival, which was continued by children in more than 60 countries around the globe.

As New Zealand is first to see the sun, entrants here were always first to begin the relay, which aimed to shine a spotlight on child deaths in some of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged countries.

The local school was one of six to take part nationwide - the point of difference was how they chose to view the event.

"[These kids] planned the whole race: they said how they were going to do it and what they were going to run for, which was raising awareness of children in the world under 5 who were dying when it could be prevented," Twyford teacher Judy Mathews said.

In the lead-up pupils learned what it was like to live in a place where children fought to stay alive on a daily basis; as part of that they discussed issues affecting kids locally such as drownings, quad bike deaths, poverty and abuse.

With that in mind, staff, parents and children clocked up 700km in three hours on a track marked out around the school field earlier this month, well above their goal of 200km.

"Instead of thinking about themselves they were reaching out. They had a day of making an effort to raise awareness for those who are not as lucky as they are."

As a result of Race for Survival they also gathered a truckload of cans for the Flaxmere Kai Collective.

"One child in my classroom said, 'I think we can do something else to help,' and suggested a bring a can day. One family donated a huge box of seedlings for the Flaxmere Community Garden, that was something extra they wanted to do for the local children."

Through the project they formed a relationship with Flaxmere community leader and Hastings District Councillor Henare O'Keefe, who launched the race and stayed until the last child finished up.

"No exaggeration, their love and compassion just blew me away, they don't have a very intimate relationship with our beloved suburb [Flaxmere] but for strangers to open their hearts and minds to traipse around their school grounds was wonderful," he said.

"To turn up and bring canned goods, that's what we like, because they don't perish."

Already the world had made unprecedented gains, with total child deaths almost halved since 1990, but that achievement alone wasn't enough.

By the end of the next year Save the Children wants to see all governments working to reduce child deaths, making sure every child worldwide has a chance at life.

"I think it's never too young to start learning about others, for New Zealand children there is no race to survive, but there are places where that is the case."