Five runners. One big goal for rangatahi.
- Te Tahi Youth
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Five runners are taking on the New York City Marathon to raise funds for Te Tahi Youth and our new East Christchurch clinical fit-out.
This November, five Kiwis will take on 42.2 kilometres of the New York City Marathon with a goal that goes well beyond the finish line: raising at least $120,000 to help create more capacity for free healthcare and support for young people in Ōtautahi.
Shane Thrower, Aaron “Webby” Webb, Kieran Read, Ryan Crotty and Colin Slade will take on the New York City Marathon, aiming to raise at least $120,000 for Te Tahi Youth.
Their goal is to help fund our new Eastgate fit-out, creating four additional medical consultation rooms alongside dedicated areas for counselling and social work. It is a significant challenge. And for Shane, the journey to the start line makes the challenge even more meaningful.
A reason to run
In 2003, Shane was hit by a car travelling at more than 100 kilometres an hour while out on what was meant to be his first training ride for the New Zealand Ironman.
He suffered a traumatic brain injury, multiple broken bones and spent months in hospital and rehabilitation. He had to learn how to walk and talk again. He was also told he would never work or compete in sport at a high level again. He decided to prove that prediction wrong.
More than 20 years later, Shane is preparing to run one of the world's most iconic marathons.
But the reason he is running isn't just personal.
Much of Shane's life has been spent working with young people, including alongside Webby at Kimihia Adventure Programme. That shared commitment to helping young people is what ultimately brought the team together.
For Webby, the connection with Te Tahi Youth was an easy one.
“You need someone in your corner.”
It's a belief that sits at the heart of what we do every day. Young people don't always need someone to solve things for them. They need people who will listen, guide them, help them see what is possible and stick around when things get difficult.
That's what our team does across healthcare, mental health, social work, attendance, career and training support and youth development.
Running for something that will last
The marathon itself will last a few hours. What this team is helping create will last much longer.
Our Eastgate project will give us four additional medical consultation rooms and dedicated areas for counselling and social work, allowing us to support more young people in an area where demand continues to grow.
We are already seeing more young people seeking support than our current capacity allows.
The fundraising from this campaign will help us get closer to completing the fit-out and opening those additional rooms for rangatahi.
For the five runners, that makes the training, the early mornings and eventually 42.2 kilometres through the streets of New York worth it.
As Webby put it: “If we can put ourselves through a bit of pain to help someone else go through less pain, then why wouldn't you?”
We couldn't agree more.
Get behind the boys
The team is aiming to raise at least $120,000 for Te Tahi Youth.
Every donation will help us bring the East Christchurch project closer to completion and, ultimately, create more capacity to provide free healthcare and support to young people who need it.
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