The Star: February 09, 2017

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Thursday February 9 2017 3
News
If Amanda can
do it . . . so can you
CHALLENGE: Amanda Trafford is taking part in the
City2Surf as part of a 100-day exercise challenge.
LESS THAN four weeks ago,
Amanda Trafford, a nurse at
Christchurch Hospital, struggled to
run 100m, but in just over a month
she’ll be at the start line of the
Sport Canterbury 6km at The Star
City2Surf.
“They used to kill me, but now
they don’t,’’ said Mrs Trafford,
when she remembers running from
her gate to the end of her cul-de-sac.
That’s thanks to joining the Extra
Mile Running Club, and getting
involved in as much group exercise
as her busy schedule allows.
Mrs Trafford’s currently taking
part in EDGE (emergency department
get exercising) a 100-day challenge,
which has been the catalyst
to her renewed commitment to
exercise.
“I started the extra mile running
because I wanted to achieve 5km,
then I thought, if I could achieve
6km then it could be massive progress.
My husband’s exercising now
too, my kids are coming to swimming,
it’s been cool.’’
The mother of three also admits
that while exercising isn’t foreign to
her, add in shift work to an already
busy family, exercise can often slip
in her priorities. However, group
exercise has been a way for her to
see that she’s not alone.
‘’Initially I didn’t want exercise
with others, but it’s been good to
see other people just the same as
me having a go. It’s actually kind
of motivating to know I’m not the
only one feeling tired or pushing
my boundaries, or even the same
size and shape as me, and I’ve made
so much progress in such a small
amount of time.’’
She says this year’s City2Surf
isn’t about beating a certain time
– running all the way will be her
challenge. Even if she walks the odd
lamp post or two, it won’t be the
worst thing in the world either.
“Given how hard it was only a
month ago I’m so proud of where
I’m at already, so when I keep that
in perspective I think 100m to 6km
in about eight weeks will be an
amazing achievement.’’
Keep up the good work Amanda,
we look forward to seeing you on
the start, and finish lines.
•The Star City2Surf with
Mike Pero
Sunday, March 19
14km or 6km option
walk, jog or run
$25 entries available at
Pak’NSave, New World, The
Athletes Foot, YMCA and online
at www.city2surf.co.nz
Man burnt while fighting car blaze in Halswell
• By Andrew King
A MAN was taken to
hospital with burns to his
face and hands after he tried
to extinguish a deliberately lit
car fire in Halswell yesterday
morning.
Firefighters arrived at
about 4am to find the car on
Patterson Tce “well ablaze”
and the owner of the car with
burns after he tried to put the
fire out with an extinguisher.
A police communications
spokeswoman said the car
had petrol poured on it
before being lit on fire.
It was parked on the side of
the street.
A neighbour said the blaze
was like “a huge fireball.”
A fire communications
spokesman said the man
suffered minor burns and
was taken to hospital for
further treatment.
The fire is being treated
as suspicious and police are
investigating.
In Brief
SCAM AIMED AT ELDERLY
A phone scam targeting elderly
people has seen a “significant
amount” of money taken from a
Christchurch resident. Police said
the phone scam included a caller
posing as a worker for a utility
company, who threatened to turn
off the victim’s power supply if
they did not pay up. The people
targeted appear to be SBS Bank
customers with an Xtra email
account, said police. The scam
was first reported by the Bankers
Association on February 2.
QUAKE INSURERS PAY OUT
Private insurers paid out nearly
$2.7 billion in 2016 to settle
commercial and residential
claims resulting from the 2010
and 2011 earthquakes, according
to the Insurance Council of New
Zealand. In 2016, insurers also
completed construction on 1470
properties, of which 907 were
rebuilds and 563 were major
repairs, and cash settled 2390
properties.
PORT PLAN HEARING
A panel has been appointed to
look into the Lyttelton Port of
Christchurch’s capital dredging
project. Sir Graham Panckhurst
will chair the hearing panel, with
Peter Atkinson and Raewyn
Solomon as members. The
port has applied for resource
consent to deepen and widen
the navigation channel so larger
vessels can enter the port. There
were 44 submissions received
on the plan during public
consultation. The panel will hear
from submitters in early April.
FUNDING BOOST FOR
FAMILY VIOLENCE PILOT
The Government has announced
an extra $680,000 so the
Christchurch Integrated Safety
Response pilot programme can
continue its work combating
family and sexual violence.
The funding will include more
frontline services, such as
independent victim specialists
and family advocates, and extra
places in perpetrator programmes
to help change behaviour.
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