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Wednesday <strong>November</strong> <strong>22</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> NEWS 9 ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL Help pick a path for Canterbury’s future GETTING READY: Blair McConnell (middle) ran with two guides – Anton McLean (left) from Christchurch and Mike Lane-Holbert from Florida. Blind runner completes NYC marathon • By Daniel Alvey the marathon in 2020, but it was cancelled due to the pandemic. A BLIND runner from Prebbleton has The New York City Marathon is the first completed the world’s biggest marathon. full marathon he has completed, having Blair McConnell was born with retinitis done a number of half-marathons. pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease that McConnell said the emotion did not set causes cells in the retina to break down in straight after he crossed the finish line. slowly over time, resulting in progressive “It took a little while before the emotion vision loss. of it actually feeling like I’ve achieved what But the 58-year-old I set out to do to kick in. didn’t let that stop him “I’m just really happy to finish something I started many years ago.” completing the 42km New York City Marathon McConnell ran with two guides, Anton in 5 hr 52 min 1 sec. McLean from Christchurch and Mike “It was an absolutely Lane-Holbert from Florida. His other incredible experience,” regular guide Noel Whiteside was unable McConnell said. to make the trip. “When you are running The course traverses the city starting in Blair with 51,000 people and Staten Island, heading through Brooklyn, McConnell supporters (spectators) up Queens, and the Bronx, finishing in Central Park. to 2.5 million . . . it still gives me shivers.” He travelled to the Big Apple as one McConnell said the crowd was overwhelming, with quiet sections as he would of seven athletes with Achilles International New Zealand. cross the bridges between islands. Achilles aims to provide people with “You’d get over the crest of a bridge disabilities the opportunity to participate and here a roar in front of you, and you’d in mainstream athletics, and matches realise it’s the crowd. them with volunteer guides. “It was like running into a stadium at McConnell started his running journey several points of the marathon. about five years ago and had planned to do “It was overwhelming.” BIG CROWDS: More than 51,000 people ran in the New York City marathon. Earlier this year, you told Environment Canterbury what’s most important to you for our natural environment. Now we’re asking you to rank your priorities for three themes: water and coast, land use and biodiversity, and climate action. This feedback will help us develop new climate action plans and set the direction for regional and district plans through the Regional Policy Statement (RPS). We work across Waitaha/Canterbury to support initiatives that balance the management of water quality and quantity while enabling a largely agricultural economy and the communities it supports to thrive. Our soils produce the food and natural products we consume and export, but our unique biodiversity has seen significant losses due to Let’s pick a path Water & coast Climate action Land use & biodiversity modification of habitat, development and the introduction of invasive pests. We also face a range of climaterelated risks, and careful thought needs to go into where we focus climate actions in coming years, and how climate hazards and risk should be managed. We need your feedback on how we look after our rivers, lakes and coastal areas, and ensure our land remains productive while allowing safe and healthy spaces for a range of activities and improving outcomes for our precious flora and fauna. And, by working together on climate action, we can help protect and adapt where we live and make the most of the opportunities climate change brings. Help us pick a path at ecan.govt.nz/ourfuture We’ve heard what’s important to you, and now we’re asking you to think about your priorities for the outcomes and actions we set for our future. Help us pick the right path at Closes 3 December <strong>2023</strong>.