House of Travel is backing the New Zealand Rugby Players Association with a four-person team to compete in the Orion Health GODZone Adventure Challenge.
The team will fund-raise for the national children's hospital Starship, in the 2012 Orion Health GODZone Adventure Race in April.
Current Black Fern Huriana Manuel, Players Association CEO Rob Nichol, Ex Blues & New Zealand Maori Player David Gibson, Ex Blues Player Ben Meyer
(Photo: House of Travel; click to enlarge)
GODZone is an expedition-style adventure race taking place in Queenstown from this Easter (7-14 April). The race traverses a distance of approximately 450km and takes most participants around four to five days. Teams, who must remain together at all times, will be expected to navigate, trek, mountain bike and kayak on a non-stop basis over a vast array of different landscapes testing the mental and physical skills of participants.
The "House of Travel Racing for Starship" team comprises ex-Blues and New Zealand Maori Player David Gibson, current Black Fern Huriana Manuel, ex-Blues player Ben Meyer and Players Association CEO Rob Nichol.
Other well known sporting stars and faces will also be joining them for various legs of the race. All Black and current SKY TV rugby presenter Ian Jones is the first confirmed to join the team for the early stages of the race with others to be announced over the coming weeks.
The team will be racing under the House of Travel and Starship Foundation banners aiming to raise funds for Starship's National Air Ambulance Service.
"House of Travel is fully supportive of the tremendous year-round service that Starship provides, by rushing medical experts to life-threatening emergencies around the country," says Brent Thomas, Commercial Director of House of Travel. "Without the National Air Ambulance Service, many children would not get the urgent attention they need, before being brought safely to Starship."
Starship Foundation Chief Executive Brad Clark says, "Starship Foundation is thrilled to be associated with the challenge that the Orion Health GODZone Adventure Race represents. We hope that all participants will take inspiration from the Starship patients and families that they are helping. We wish the "House of Travel Racing for Starship" team the best of luck in completing the event and in their fundraising."
"Like all New Zealanders we respect the work of the Starship Foundation immensely" says Rugby Players Association CEO Rob Nichol. "Every day the national children's hospital is there for children and families in need, achieving amazing things from life saving services to providing the caring environment and support needed during the toughest of times. To undertake this kind of fundraising you need a key corporate partner, someone to show leadership and set the standard for the challenge of raising the funds. House of Travel has stepped up to make this possible, and get us off to a great start. It says a lot for its culture as an organisation and commitment to New Zealand."
To support the House of Travel Racing for Starship team and donate to Starship visit www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/godzone or text STAR to 469 to make an automatic $3 donation.
