Marton woman Bailee Hoera ran 208km from Marton to New Plymouth in her pink gumboots in just over 21 hours for Gumboot Friday to raise awareness for mental health.
Marton woman Bailee Hoera ran 208km from Marton to New Plymouth in her pink gumboots in just over 21 hours for Gumboot Friday to raise awareness for mental health.
An emotional and gruelling journey from Marton to New Plymouth was completed by Bailee Hoera in her neon pink gumboots to raise awareness for mental health.
Hoera completed her 208km run in 21 hours and 32 minutes, finishing at New Plymouth’s Awanui Cemetery just before 8.30pm on November 7.
Hoerasaid it was an emotional run to the grave of her friend, who died by suicide when they were 14.
“I was more emotionally drained than physically drained because I ended up crying for the last 20km – just the whole, entire time.”
From Stratford to New Plymouth, the system she used was “run, sulk, walk and repeat”, she said.
Hoera has raised more than $3700 on her Givealittle page and received $170 from businesses she passed on the way.
Hoera had to dig deep during the stretch from Stratford to New Plymouth as her emotions were becoming overwhelming.
Hoera planned to leave about 2am on November 7 but her eagerness and excitement led to her waking at 11pm on November 6 and starting her run.
Her decision to leave early paid dividends because she found out in Stratford that Awanui Cemetery closed at 8.30pm.
“I was like ‘no, we can’t get there and wait all night for it to open in the morning’. Thank goodness the security were so lovely, they let me go in and take my time.”
She said she felt shocked and humbled when she arrived at the cemetery because she couldn’t believe what she had just done.
Hoera said her body was recovering now but the first two days after completion were tough.
“The first day I could not walk at all and then on Sunday it was reasonable, I could walk and move about the house,” Hoera said.
“I have all of my toenails so I’m grateful.”
Hoera has made Gumboot Friday challenges a yearly tradition, first completing her gumboot run from Marton to Mangaweka in 2023, before running to Paraparaumu in 2024.
Next year, she would like to spread the message towards the Hawke’s Bay region.
