Inaugural Auckland Hike Supports Mozambique - World Food Day

21 October 2011

Philanthropic Kiwis descended on the Auckland Domain last weekend to put their feet forward on a fundraising charity hike for a famine-relief programme in Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest nations.

The 50 participants’ hiking effort raised money to assist at least 500 people in Mozambique to become more self-reliant and empowered to end their hunger.

Locals proudly represented New Zealand on the inaugural hike as one of 15 countries supporting hike4hunger and also commemorated UN World Food Day, which falls on 16 October each year.

Hike4hunger founder Simon Lewis says, “We are thrilled that New Zealand was able to join the cause for the first time this year. It is encouraging to know that the event has raised awareness among a new community of passionate individuals keen to help spread the message about the widespread global hunger issue.”

The group completed a five-kilometre inner-city hike, which commenced at the Auckland Domain and passed iconic landmarks such as Aotea Square and the Auckland Art Gallery, which represent much of Auckland and New Zealand’s culture, heritage and future.

Hike4hunger’s charity partner is The Hunger Project New Zealand, and THP country director Charlotte Reynolds says, “It was wonderful to see so many motivated people coming together in a practical way to address the chronic hunger issue affecting so many nations.

“We are thankful for everyone’s effort and support, and are delighted to be able to help Mozambique with our investment. The funds will support food farmers with seed, fertilizer and improved farming techniques which will help encourage early prevention rather than emergency aid.”

This year hike4hunger aimed to raise NZ$160,000 across all participating nations. The Hunger Project will distribute the funds, which will be used to empower more than 27,000 women, men and children to become self-reliant and provide a better future for their community in Mozambique.

Hunger is not just an issue in developing nations, it is widespread and there is a growing problem here in New Zealand. The scale of the current famine in east Africa serves to highlight the vast disparity between wealthy and poor nations, one participant was overheard saying ‘imagine doing this hungry’.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 2008, the world produces enough food to feed every existing person – in fact, enough to feed 12 billion people. Hunger is the world’s number one health risk, killing more people annually than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis together.

Visit hike4hunger at www.hike4hunger.org

Or The Hunger Project at www.thp.org.nz to learn more.

You can also view a short video of hike4hunger here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_6rKft1YGI

ENDS

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