'Dangerous spectacle': Health experts push for Run It Straight ban

RNZ News

27-06-2025

Photo:
runitstraight24
Run It Straight is a "dangerous spectacle" that is harming young people and must be banned immediately, say Aotearoa's leading trauma clinicians.
Three frontline medical professionals issued the warning in a hard-hitting editorial published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
It follows the death of Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, who died during a backyard Run It Straight-style game.
The editorial, written by trauma nurse Sarah Logan, surgical registrar Rachel Lauchlan, and general surgeon Dr Christopher Wakeman, calls on councils, schools, and sporting bodies to take urgent action to prevent further harm.
"Run It Straight is not a sport. It is a dangerous spectacle that has already claimed a young life. It's continued promotion is medically indefensible and ethically unjustifiable."
The unregulated challenge involves two people sprinting toward each other and colliding at full force, often without helmets.
Social media clips celebrate knockouts and impact hits, but health experts say what they're really watching is long-term brain trauma unfold.
"Even a single concussive blow can cause permanent cognitive, emotional and behavioural impairment, particularly in adolescents and young adults whose brains are still developing," the authors wrote.
"Repetitive collisions of this kind increase the likelihood of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive degenerative brain disease."
The health experts want councils to not allow Run It Straight events, schools and clubs to ban the practice, sports stars to stop endorsing it, social media platforms to remove harmful content, and public health campaigns to raise awareness of the risks.
"We cannot afford another preventable death … Let this be the last death."
In May 2025, Satterthwaite died after suffering a severe head injury. Also in May, at a Run It Championship League event at Auckland's Trust Arena, two participants were knocked unconscious, one suffered a seizure, and an estimated one in four competitors showed signs of concussion.
Ryan Satterthwaite.
Photo:
Instagram
The editorial also challenges claims that the events help build community pride and service saying.
"Young men are pressured to earn respect through violence, and injury is glorified as a badge of honour. We must dismantle this idea. Real mana is not shown through unregulated impact, but through insight and true sport tactics, and lies in caring for oneself and others."
There are at least two separate groups associated with Run It Straight-style events, the grassroots team led by Christian Lesa, also known as Charizma.
There's a commercial competition called the Run It Championship League, which hosted the Trust Arena event in Auckland in May.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair Tauanuʻu Nick Bakulich commented on the grassroots group who attempted to host events in South Auckland.
"Our local board has made a stance with a recent event that was due to take place in Māngere, which we did not endorse," Tauanuʻu said.
"This very recent death, tragic death, clearly outlines why we should be looking at banning such activity."
Local Democracy Reporting asked Tauanuʻu how communities could better balance cultural pride, masculinity, and community spirit without compromising safety.
"It's definitely not through an event like Run It Straight. There's lots of other opportunities out there for our people, playing a sport in a controlled environment, or even weightlifting, bodybuilding, body sculpturing, all very popular at the moment."
Auckland Council confirmed it has not approved any Run It Straight events and said its permitting process cannot be used to ban them under current bylaws.
"We are only aware of one event being held on council land, which was held at a South Auckland park without any council notification or endorsement," said Taryn Crewe, General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities.
"If the organisers of Run-it Straight-type events had approached the council to seek a permit, we would be unlikely to approve it because of the serious health and safety impacts."
The council is open to improving its processes as new sports evolve, to ensure risks are effectively managed on public land, she said.
"It is always helpful when sports codes show leadership by calling out unsafe practices. Players have a huge influence as respected role models on how some of these activities evolve."
Tauanuʻu said council systems are robust, but warns informal Run It Straight events show why communities must stay alert and well-informed.
"It's quite clear what our parks and reserves are used for. And this type of activity is certainly outside of those parameters."
RUNIT Championship League and the Run It Straight owner and CEO, Christian Lesa, were approached for comment.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.