Barfoot & Thompson supports young marathon runners
Barfoot & Thompson is pleased to announce its new sponsorship of the Auckland Kids Marathon.
Monday 30 July, 2018
Barfoot & Thompson today confirmed it is extending its involvement at the ASB Auckland Marathon, adding its name to the Barfoot & Thompson Kids Marathon. This new sponsorship complements its successful four-year association with the Barfoot & Thompson Half Marathon at New Zealand’s largest marathon event.
To celebrate, the real estate agency unveiled two initiatives for young runners, designed to promote healthy lifestyles while benefiting the Starship Foundation, and some of the country’s youngest patients. Schools that sign up teams of runners for the Barfoot & Thompson Kids Marathon will have the opportunity to win $1,000 towards their health and sport activities. The three schools that register the most children to the Marathon will each receive a $1,000 prize.
Barfoot & Thompson is also donating $5 to the Starship Foundation for every child who enters the 2.2km course. The company has been a Five Star Partner of the Starship Foundation since 2004, raising vital funds that have helped pay for things like ultrasound machines, ventilators, hospital upgrades and equipment for the Starship National Air Ambulance. From 2017 to 2018 alone, Barfoot & Thompson has donated and raised over half a million dollars to help New Zealand children in need of Starship care from all across the country.
Managing Director Peter Thompson says it was an easy decision to extend their support to kids at the event.
“Auckland Marathon is a phenomenal event, on race day it can feel like the whole city is running together. We are already a proud sponsor of the Auckland Half Marathon and the Starship Foundation, so it seemed naturally a great fit to help encourage healthier outcomes for both school children and the Starship Foundation through the Barfoot & Thompson Kids Marathon.
“Joining as a school will mean children will have the support of their peers, classmates, teachers and parents. It’s great to see school communities come together around such a positive event like the Kids Marathon.
“We are also proud to be including the Starship Foundation in the initiative and hope that together we can help support young patients and their families.”
ASB Auckland Marathon Race Director Bec Williams said the partnership with Barfoot & Thompson is an especially fitting one.
“Barfoot & Thompson has for a long time been a corporate leader in the way they support the communities in which they work, and this is yet another example of them setting the tone. This is a great fit for everyone, with their long-standing support of the Starship Foundation, one of our event Charity Hero partners.
“The schools initiative is a great innovation and one that will hopefully see the schools further motivated to encourage children into healthy and active lifestyles, with the added bonus of every entry generating a donation to Starship.”