Great Adventure Race Creates Fresh Challenges

Cure Kids Great Adventure Race Creates Fresh Challenges

March 3 2006:The 2006 Cure Kids Great Adventure Race, now in its third year, will hold as many challenges for the experienced competitors as it will for first time teams, when it is staged in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges on March 31.

The event is a one day corporate multisport race and 45 teams representing 23 companies have entered. Money raised from the event is used by Cure Kids for research into children's life threatening illnesses.

In 2004 the event raised $300,000 and last year the total topped $485,000.

Race Director Alan Nelson, says the task this year has been to produce a course which continues to challenge the increasingly fit and experienced teams, with a number now competing in their third Cure Kids Great Adventure Race.

"On the other hand we have to look after the first timers who are generally on a much steeper adventure racing learning curve."

"Our field limit of 45 teams was filled before Christmas last year and is an excellent growth on last year where we had 35 teams representing 20 companies," he says. "Not only is this good news for Cure Kids but the turnout is a solid endorsement of the race concept and a reflection of the great courses we have been able to develop in the Waitakere Ranges."

Cure Kids Business Development Manager Mandy Mee says the response has been outstanding and the teams are committed to raising more money than last year.

"There is such a huge interest in this event evidenced by the numbers of companies returning, some with an increased number of teams. There are also new companies represented which is exciting, and shows that the message is getting out that this is an excellent event not only for the athletes, but also for companies to use as a team building exercise."

The 2006 Cure Kids Great Adventure race will be launched at a function at Auckland's Coast Bar in Viaduct Harbour on March 28. A celebrity MC and special guests will be involved along with Cure Kids personalities.

The actual course in the Waitakere Ranges will be under wraps until race day but competitors can expect 6-10 hours of running, trekking, coasteering, mountainbiking and navigation to complete the course.

Rivalry among all the teams is running high and defending champions Frucor Beverages Flintstones wants to retain the title. Two other Frucor teams are competing.

Health and Safety Manager Mike Clay says they want to keep Frucor's name up in lights but he is aware there is some tough opposition.

Cadbury which won the inaugural event in 2004 and finished third last year has four teams entered , two from the North Island and for the first time two from the South.

"It is great to have two teams from Dunedin competing," says Sales Manager- Export Greg Farrant. "They have definitely got the bug and are out there training hard . Obviously there will be a lot of rivalry between the North and South teams on the day."

Fonterra is a new team to the event this year and comes with an enviable pedigree. Shaun Collins , Fonterra's Financial Controller Shareholder Services, says they have put together a team which has extensive Coast to Coast, 24 Hour Race and Ironman experience.

Mr Nelson says they have found some incredible off the beaten track terrain to test the teams.
"The Cure Kids Great Adventure Race is hard but it is a reflection of the challenges young children with life threatening illnesses face every day."

ENDS

www.curekids.org.nz

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