Frontline responders are taking over Christchurch’s New Brighton Pier this weekend for an emergency services endurance running event.
Around 45 frontline responders from Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, Hato Hone St John, Surf Lifesaving, NZ Defence Force and Christchurch Hospital’s Emergency Department will be running for 24 hours to raise funds and awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.
The challenge is part of Mental Health Awareness Week, and the chosen charity is I Am Hope, which provides free counselling for vulnerable rangatahi across the country.
Each team will run 4 miles (6.4km) every 4 hours for 24 hours, totalling 38.5km each. For an extra twist, runners will add an additional lap of the pier each time, pushing the total distance to 42km – a full marathon.
“As far as we know, no-one has ever run a marathon on the pier,” says event organiser Senior Constable Glenn Dawson. “So, that’s something for us to get excited about!”
The event kicks off at 12noon on Saturday, 1 November, with NZ Defence Force and Surf Lifesaving leading the way. Police will run at 2pm, 6pm, 10pm, 2am, 6am and 10am.
“The challenges are different from a straight marathon,” Glenn explains. “The downtime between runs means your body seizes up, and by the end, you’re sleep-deprived.
"But that’s the point – we want to push ourselves out of our comfort zone because so many young people feel there’s no light at the end of their tunnel.”
Frontline responders deal with mental health crises every day, and Glenn says they’re not immune to the trauma they witness.
“During the course of their working lives, police officers and paramedics will be exposed to extreme trauma hundreds of times,” Glenn says. “We’re fortunate to have support systems, but many young people don’t. That’s why we’re doing this.”
The event has attracted some high-profile support as mental health advocate Mike King will be there on Sunday to cheer runners across the finish line.
The goal is to raise $20,000, and people are encouraged show up to support the runners.
“Come down and cheer us on,” says Glenn.
The runners are ready for the challenge, but the weather is the unpredictable factor.
“Our fingers are crossed for an ideal running climate," says Glenn, "but if it’s a brisk easterly, stiff southerly or a gale nor’wester, we’re stuffed!”