From inspired to inspirational
On Sunday night, Queenstowner Cam Marshall, 21, settled in with a pizza to watch Runn, a documentary detailing Nedd Brockmann's journey to run 100km a day, for 46 days, across Australia.
"I just got super-inspired and thought, 'what am I doing?'
"I'm just sitting on the couch eating pizza.
"This guy's out here running 100km a day for 46 days."
Having just returned from a working holiday in Japan, and not due to start back at Queenstown's NZONE until tomorrow, Mr Marshall figured he had nothing else planned on Monday, so on a whim decided to attempt his first 100km run, setting out to raise $100 for I Am Hope.
The farthest he had previously run was 27km, about seven months ago.
Mr Marshall promptly took himself to bed, woke up about 2.30am, made a rough plan for his adventure and set up his Givealittle page, "Running 100km for Mental Health — No Training, Just Purpose".
"Obviously mental health [is] such a big topic in New Zealand, especially among young people," he says.
"I feel like I've had my own sort of battles with mental health growing up, especially like leaving high school.
"It's not easy being a young person in New Zealand, I find.
"There's a lot of bad things that people can focus on, but I wanted to sort of bring some light and ... donate money to mental health and help out."
He set off from his parents' Threepwood home about 4.45am, intending to do the entire distance unsupported.
But as soon as he started posting on Instagram, "people started reaching out and wanting to help".
His jaunt took him into Queenstown, where he stopped at FreshChoice for some food, then to Frankton, where there was another stop at New World, and then on to the Kelvin Heights golf course.
He doubled back and headed towards Arrowtown — his mum's cousin dropped off some more food at Morven Ferry — but around the 75km mark he blew out his right foot.
'It just got worse and worse ... so I just had to walk it out.
"I knew it was going to be a long 25km."
By then, though, he had a growing support crew, who were with him every last step of the way.
Mr Marshall finished about 9pm, "right outside my house" with about 10 people, including his sister who travelled over from Wānaka to keep an eye on him overnight.
By Wednesday, he had obliterated his fundraising target, with over $3100 donated to the cause.
Mr Marshall said he intended to keep the Givealittle page open and was considering another fundraising challenge down the track.
"I love keeping fit, and I think there's potentially some room down the line to be doing a bit more of this."
tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Rowers on world stage
Wakatipu High's Seb Watson, left, and Harry Lightfoot proved their rowing chops with a record win in the U18 double sculls at this year's Maadi Cup on Lake Karapiro. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Two Wakatipu High 17-year-old rowers are furiously training and fundraising to represent New Zealand at world under-19 champs this winter. They are Arrowtowner Harry Lightfoot and Queenstowner Seb Watson, who sensationally broke a record of about 20 years' standing when they claimed gold in the U18 double sculls at this year's national secondary schools Maadi Cup regatta. Following trials, Harry's made NZ's team for the U19 worlds in Lithuania in August, which will be preceded by six weeks' training in Cambridge. He'll row in the double with Nathan Strachan, from Auckland's Macleans College, who won the U18 single sculls at this year's Maadi. Seb, meanwhile, has made the U19 NZ development team who are off to the Continental Challenge Cup regatta in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the United States, where he'll compete in multiple events including a mixed eight. Both trips are solely self-funded, Harry's costs reaching $20,000 and Seb's $8500 — a Givealittle page is running for the pair who are also fundraising themselves, including a raffle in Harry's case. Both have been rowing since year 9 at Wakatipu High, but have come on particularly over the past two years under Whakatipu Rowing Club coach John Morrison. Last year they won golds at Maadi in the U17 double and coxed quad, and they repeated the dose at U18 level on Cambridge's Lake Karapiro this year. For their upcoming worlds they've upped their training to 10 or 11 times a week including gym, rowing machine and on-water work. "Normally there's the big group trainings but at the moment there's just like me and Seb in a double or we'll be in singles, and it's freezing," Harry says. Both boys say they enjoy the social side of rowing — "I just enjoy being with my mates", Seb says — but also the competitive side. Both intend carrying on when they finish school this year, initially with the Whakatipu Rowing Club this next season — Seb's off to Canterbury University, and Harry's still deciding his next move. Harry follows in the wake of local rowing star Marley King Smith who competed at the past two U19 worlds.
1News
6 days ago
- 1News
'Run it' goes underground: Backyard version of tackle game live streamed
Another "run it straight" event took place in a backyard last night, taking a more scaled-down approach to the controversial craze. After having its event at Barfoot & Thompson Stadium in Kohimarama cancelled last month, Up the Guts NZ decided to go ahead in a nondescript backyard, believed to be in Auckland, and livestream it over social media. The craze involves two people running at and crashing into each other at speed. Last week, 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died after he received a serious head injury while playing a game based on the dangerous trend with friends in Palmerston North. Similar events have received backlash, with health officials and brain injury advocates concerned about the dangers of the activity. ADVERTISEMENT With public venues cancelling the events, it appears to have moved onto private property. Participants collide at last night's event (Source: Instagram) Last night's event took place under a gazebo at an address believed to be in Auckland. While only a small crowd of people gathered to watch, more than 13,000 tuned in over social media. Participants squared off from each side of the property, in the hope of winning a $5000 cash prize. In the livestream, one of the announcers could be heard saying he was looking for some "massive hits tonight". A $500 cash prize was awarded to the participant with the biggest hit. In a difference to other events, all participants wore headgear and mouthguards. They also ran at each other from a much closer distance. ADVERTISEMENT Up the Guts NZ and its organiser, Kimami Ngaluafe, both claimed it was being held to 'raise awareness for mental health and suicide in our neighbourhoods'. Two participants collide at last night's event. (Source: Instagram. ) According to NZ Herald, Ngaluafe said Up the Guts had implemented greater safety measures. 'For example, we have half the running distance to minimise collision impact. Mouthguards, headgear and shoulder protection are compulsory here. We have on-field spotters, first-aiders and medics on-site. Participant safety is our No. 1 priority,' he said. 'But not only that, our biggest goal is to raise awareness for mental health and suicide. Mental Health New Zealand stats show the Māori and Pasifika, especially our men, have the highest rates of suicide in this country, particularly our young males aged 15 to 24 years old.' 1News has approached Ngaluafe for comment on last night's event. Mouthguards and headgear won't prevent brain injury, expert says ADVERTISEMENT Brain Injury NZ Vice-President and AUT associate professor with the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Kelly Jones, said the footage from last night's event was 'pretty hard to watch'. She said that things like mouthguards and headgear wouldn't limit the risk of a brain injury to those participating in the activity. Brain Injury NZ Vice-President and AUT associate professor with the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Kelly Jones (Source: Supplied) 'The brain is a soft, jellylike substance surrounded by fluid within a hard casing, being our skull. 'If the head is travelling along at speed and comes to a sudden stop, the brain can keep travelling and slam into the skull. That's where we see brain injuries ranging from concussion through to more moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries. 'Mouthguards are designed to protect mouths and teeth – they do that very well. But mouth guards and headgear do not protect against brain injuries. They're not going to stop the brain moving inside the scalp and potentially being bruised.' She criticised the call for 'massive hits'. ADVERTISEMENT 'Mouthguards and headgear with 'massive hits' are not going to prevent brain injury.' Stacey Mowbray of Headway said Ryan Satterthwaite's death was an 'absolute tragedy' but wasn't surprised it happened. (Source: 1News) Jones said that wearing mouthguards and headgear could even have a 'reverse effect'. 'The wearer thinks, oh, I can really go all out, give it my all because I'm protected.' She said there was 'no way' to reduce the risk of brain injury in these activities, 'We've got two people running straight towards each other, and people are looking for massive hits. The risk of brain injury cannot be eliminated.' Jones also said it was 'interesting' to see the organisers used the event to promote mental health awareness. ADVERTISEMENT 'Having a concussion, which is a mild form of traumatic brain injury, through to more severe injury, does heighten the risk of problems with mood, anxiety, depression and risk of suicide. 'They're likely complex relationships, but we know that they exist, so it's interesting to hear that the spin on that has been to promote means health. 'I don't see how this activity will achieve that.' Teen's death sparked warnings, condemnation Ryan Satterthwaite, 19. (Source: Ryan Satterthwaite was at a 21st party when he and his friends decided to have some 'harmless fun' and have a go at their own imitation of a 'run it game'. He suffered a serious head injury while being tackled and was taken to the hospital by his friends. He died on the evening of 26 May. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called Satterthwaite's death an 'absolute tragedy'. ADVERTISEMENT 'It's incredibly tragic for the young person involved, for their family, for their friends. It's a good reminder for people to take personal responsibility, for individual responsibility, to think about the activity,' he told Newstalk ZB. 'But I'd also say to adults and sports influencers and celebrity influencers, or whatever it is driving this sort of craze, they should be thinking and reflecting very strongly right now.' Pete Satterthwaite, Ryan's uncle, called the activity 'utter stupidity'. 'Don't do it, it's utter stupidity. It seems like a bit of harmless fun, and as a teenager, I probably would have been doing the same thing with my friends, but no one gives any thought to the consequences," he said. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, suffered a serious head injury while playing a game based on the controversial craze. (Source: 1News) 'They can have all of the medical supervision they like. They can have all the tackling practice that they like, but nothing is going to prevent serious injuries from happening." He called on athletes and others who were influential in the space to speak out against participating in the activity. ADVERTISEMENT 'I am hoping that out of this, we'll get some All Blacks, some rugby league players to stand up and express what a dumb idea that this particular game is,' he said. NZ Rugby urged people not to participate in similar events. 'Those wanting to play contact sports should register for a school or club team and learn in a controlled and safe environment how to tackle safely and the art of evasion.'
1News
02-06-2025
- 1News
Warriors' Mitch Barnett ruled out for rest of season with ACL rupture
NZ Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett has been ruled out for the rest of the season after it was confirmed he ruptured his ACL during Sunday's victory over the Rabbitohs. Scans revealed today he had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee early in the 36-30 win over South Sydney at Accor Stadium. The injury occurred when Barnett was involved in a tackle with teammate Chanel Harris-Tavita on South Sydney's Jayden Sullivan during the first half. He fell awkwardly while making a tackle and his right leg buckled beneath him. The Warriors' co-captain tore his right ACL during the team's victory over the Rabbitohs on Sunsday. (Source: Supplied) ADVERTISEMENT Barrett would meet specialists in the coming days to determine a timeline for surgery. In a post to Instagram, the NRL franchise said: "Thoughts go out to Barney and his family at this time, but we all know skip will be back soon and better than ever." Confirmation of the season-ending injury will come as a blow to the Warriors, as well as the New South Wales State of Origin team. The Warriors are next in action on Saturday against the Cronulla Sharks.
