MEDIA RELEASE: 12 September 2013

The Web Genius Kapiti Run for Youth open for registrations

Saturday 10 November

Richard Calkin of Web Genius created this event two years ago as a way of raising money for Youth Quest: a character mentoring programme that inspires positive futures. Richard is passionate about continuing to helping Youth Quest and for that matter other Kapiti based youth organisations.

To that end, the event has grown to incorporate other funding raising partners. This means if you are part of a Kapiti-based school, group, team, club or organisation, you can get involved and raise money for your group. Any group that has a youth focus can apply to be a fund raising partner and by taking part will receive 40% of their funds raised with the other 40% going towards Youth Quest and 20% towards running the event behind the scenes.

This is a fantastic approach says Helene Judge, Fund raising Co-ordinator as there are many youth based organisations within Kapiti that often struggle for funding so here is an opportunity that groups can sign up to help raise funds for themselves. For example, it could be new team uniforms for a sports team, a school trip, new instruments or equipment is needed or a need to spruce up the club rooms etc.

Jeremy Neeve of Youth Quest is busy preparing his team to take part in this event and will be putting up posters and billboards around Kapiti to promote the event and participating on the day. Youth Quest is a charitable organisation that relies on income raised from within the community. Jeremy believes this event is different as a variety of local businesses continue to show amazing and genuine community spirit to assist Youth Quest financially in the work they do.

Early fund raising partners that have registered to run or walk in this event include Kapiti Youth Services, the Air Training Corps (Kapiti District) and the Activate Youth Group.

The planning team (Richard Calkin, Peter Jackson, Richard van Eck, Jeremy Neeve and Helene Judge) want to see more fund raising partners’ and individuals registering. They can then start their sponsorship drives and be ready to walk or run the beautiful Kapiti coastline from Paraparaumu to Raumati Beach and back.

Everyone involved is adamant that this is a wonderful community event as it is a chance to get out with your team, your classroom, your work mates, your friends and clients for some fun and the unique opportunity to raise money for your own cause as well as Youth Quest.

There are four great options to choose from:

1. 12 km walk – registration 9.30am, start 10am

2. 6km walk – registration 10.30am, start 11am

3. 12km run – registration 10.30am, start 11am

4. 6km run – registration 11.30am, start 12pm

Go to the web site to register, sponsor someone or join the mail list www.kapitirunforyouth.co.nz

Kapiti Run for Youth is proudly sponsored by Beach FM, Cityfitness, Display Tactix, Kapiti Law, Kapiti News, LT Accounting Services, Peter Jackson Plumbing, R-Line and Shoe Clinic.

A unique testimonial about Youth Quest

A local business woman says, in a nutshell having Youth Quest involved with a young man that she is currently looking after means I worry less about his future and no longer feel I’m the only one who is concerned about where he is going.

The boy in question is 18 and does not have great relationship with his family. He phoned and asked if he could come and stay with us as he had no money, didn’t qualify for a benefit at that stage and had nowhere to go. He left school when he was 14 with no qualifications, been in and out of foster care, homeless for a period of time and basically looking after himself since about 16. He has committed offences and it’s not known where he is going to end up.

Fortunately a call was made to Youth Quest to talk about possible accommodation arrangements and since then they have agreed to take our guy in to their programme. This means a number of things: First, it’s lifted a huge weight, I no longer feel like I’m doing this by myself and there are other people who are going to be able to teach him about good decision making, among other things. Youth Quest have signed him up for a correspondence course which means he will now be able to get some NCEA credits as he does have work ambitions but he needs numeracy and literacy skills.

While on the Youth Quest programme he has to maintain personal standards like no swearing, be clean shaven and have short hair. Youth Quest only deals with teenage boys so for him to have some positive male role models who aren’t going to judge and who are going to support him is huge. The other great thing is that Kapiti Youth Support has also been in brought in to assess behavioural issues. Thanks Youth Quest for your intervention and ongoing help at this time.

ENDS

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