17 October 2014

Contact announces new Hawea community fund, and extends Contact Epic funding

Contact and LMS Events have teamed up for another three years to run the much-loved Contact Epic, NZ’s Ultimate Mountain Bike Challenge, and have added some extra love to the partnership by establishing a new joint fund to support the local Hawea community.

$5 from every entry to the Contact Epic challenge will now be donated by LMS Events to a community fund. Contact will match that contribution dollar for dollar up to 1000 entries, or $5,000 per year.

“Contact has been a principal partner to the Lake Hawea Epic for the last seven years, and we’re proud to be able to take them through to their 10th year,” said Nicholas Robinson, Contact’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs.

“The Contact Epic track wraps around Lake Hawea which is an important part of our hydro business, so we see our investment into this event as integral to being a good neighbour, and as part of our long-term commitment to Hawea.”

“The community have told us how important Contact Epic is in supporting local business, in raising the profile of the town, and in engaging the community in a national event. We really wanted to expand our partnership this time around so together with Contact Epic’s event director, we’ve come up with a new idea – to establish a community fund for the locals.”

“We’re really excited and looking forward to engaging with the local community about how they want the money allocated to return the best outcomes for Hawea,” said Mr. Robinson.

Contact Epic Event Director Danielle Nicholson said “the Contact Epic provides a once a year opportunity to race the surrounds of Lake Hawea. It’s an iconic event that attracts people from all over the country.”

“We are thrilled to have Contact partner this event for a further 3 years. They have been with us from the inception, and will now see us into the ten year mark, an amazing milestone. We are also excited to be partners with Contact in the new Hawea community fund which is just another way in which the event can give back to the locals.” said Mrs Nicholson.

Contact Epic will take place 18 April 2015. To register or for more information go to www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz

About the event:
The Contact Epic is a 125 km journey of discovery circumnavigating the shores of Lake Hawea which is located on the edge of Wanaka, right next to the Southern Alps in the South Island of New Zealand. The course is undulating and varied with river and stream crossings, lots of short climbs and long descents. There is also the 95km Classic option on the same course and, new in 2013, a shorter 35km Traverse race also starting at the Lake Hawea Dam and riding through local farming country and along the mighty Clutha and Hawea Rivers.

For more information and to register for the 18 April 2015 event go to www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz

About Contact
Contact is one of New Zealand’s largest electricity generators and retailers. We keep the lights burning, the hot water flowing and the BBQ fired up for around 567,500 customer across the country. Powering the country with electricity, natural gas and LPG, our team of around 1,050 lives, works and operates in communities throughout New Zealand. www.contact.co.nz

ENDS

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