Son of refugees on run fundraiser

Will Tran says he wants to do his bit to help the refugees.

Child of Vietnamese boat people moved by plight.

A son of Vietnamese "boat people" to New Zealand is running three half marathons to fundraise and highlight the plight of refugees.

Auckland father-of-one Will Tran was moved to tears after seeing the now defining image of the Mediterranean refugee crisis, the Syrian toddler drowned on a beach.

Wanting to do more than simply share a story on social media, Mr Tran, whose parents fled post-war communist Vietnam in the late 1970s for a better life in New Zealand, laced up his running shoes.

"You always hear that Gandhi saying, 'Be the change that you wish to see in the world'," said Mr Tran, 34.

The 34-year-old media agency business director's parents, Angie and Ky, fled Vietnam in 1979 and landed in New Zealand as refugees.

"They literally left everything behind." Mr Tran said.

Mr Tran, 34, has already ran the Auckland and Hamilton half marathons and raised more than $1700 for the New Zealand Red Cross.

This weekend, he takes on the Queenstown event, which will take him past his goal of running 400km.

"These refugees are forced to leave dire situations with nothing but what is on their back," said Mr Tran.

"I will do anything I can to help them in my little way, just like those who helped my parents all those years ago."

• Those wanting to donate can do so on Will Tran's Givealittle page.