12 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>October</strong> <strong>26</strong> <strong>2022</strong>
NEWS 13 24-hour mental health charity run will benefit youth SELWYN’S EMERGENCY services personnel will be running in connecting shifts over 24 hours to raise money for youth mental health. The Emergency Services Run For Charity will be held at Rolleston’s <strong>Selwyn</strong> Sports Centre from noon on November 5 to noon on November 6. Police officers, firefighters, personnel from St John, Civil Defence, the army, along with some teachers from Clearview School, will make up a contingent of 45. Organiser Senior Constable Glenn Dawson of Rolleston said the goal was to raise $20,000 for I AM HOPE and the charity’s Gumboot Friday initiative which provides free counselling for 15 to 24-year-olds. All funds raised would stay in Canterbury. “As emergency services staff, we unfortunately have front row seats to witness our mental health and suicide incidents,” Dawson said. Youth receiving quicker counselling could reduce their distress and make them less likely to need emergency services. Dawson ran a similar event in February, where eight emergency services personnel participated and about $6000 was raised. Each emergency service group will run alongside their colleagues, and be on the track for four one-hour blocks. For example, police will run 4-5pm and 10-11pm on the Saturday, and 4-5am and 10-11am on the Sunday. The aim was to push out of their comfort zones, Dawson said. “For us, it’s just one foot in front of the other, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. But for the many out there who are struggling, they can not see that light, and feel they don’t have a way out.” Dawson said he would be wearing gumboots for at least two of his four runs. He had recently trained, finding he could cover 8km in one hour in gumboots. “It actually wasn’t too bad, no blisters,” he said. Professional firefighter Karl Kitchen, who lives at Rolleston and is a senior station officer in Christchurch, had trained with him. Kitchen wore full fire kit and breathing apparatus, while walking 5km in the hour. Kitchen said while the breathing apparatus tank of compressed air generally lasted a maximum of 33 minutes, he slowed his breathing right down to stretch it out to the one hour. “Running for an hour is not hard for me, whereas making one BA cylinder last an hour is adding an extra stress to push myself a wee bit,” Kitchen said. The public are invited to attend noon- 3pm Saturday and 9am-noon Sunday. Entry was free but people could give a donation. Dawson said the Saturday could potentially draw visitors who were wanting to attend the <strong>Selwyn</strong> Fireworks Spectacular in Foster Park that evening. I AM HOPE representatives would carry out a bucket collection at the display. Donations can also be m ade at givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/emergencyservices-lace-up-their-boots, where $1290 had already been raised as of last week. 4 MARCH 2023 LINCOLN Wednesday <strong>October</strong> <strong>26</strong> <strong>2022</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> TICKETS ON SALE selwynsounds.co.nz IN TRAINING: Rolleston firefighter Karl Kitchen and Senior Constable Glenn Dawson are preparing for the upcoming Emergency Services Run For Charity. WE’VE EXTENDED OUR WEEKEND HOURS We know farming isn’t a Monday - Friday gig, so we’ve made weekend shopping a bit easier, to be there for you when you need us. Farmlands Rangiora is now open 7 days Farmlands Feedbarn, Yaldhurst is now open Saturday 9.00am - 4.00pm Not a shareholder? No problem, everyone’s welcome. For full store hours visit farmlands.co.nz