A winter dip planned for Mission Bay to raise funds for the Foundation for Youth Development has become the latest casualty of the toxic water problem plaguing Auckland.
Organisers of the inaugural ‘Winter JOLT’ have been advised by the Auckland Regional Public Health Service to cancel the fundraiser.
Event organiser Wade Jackson is co-founder of the JOLT Challenge – a critically acclaimed book and training programme on self intelligence. He said he was disappointed but believed it was in the best interests of all involved.
“The event would have seen members of the business community entering the water, some dressed in business suits, to support a very worthy cause,” Wade said.
“However, this has now become a health and safety matter and we’d be irresponsible not to take the advice of the authorities.
“Our intention is to hold the fundraiser next year when hopefully we won’t have this problem to contend with.”
Funds raised during the swim were to be used by the Foundation on its various youth programmes which include Kiwi Can, Stars and Project K.
