The glow from the Kiwi Commonwealth Games success is set to shine on Mother’s Day as a star-studded line-up of Kiwi athletes put their best foot forward at the Jennian Homes Mother’s Day Fun Run and Walk.
Black Sticks’ golden girls Sally Rutherford and Pippa Hayward, fresh from clinching gold in style with a 4-1 win over Australia, are part of an inspirational drawcard of 50 athletes assisting with the warm-up and 5km event.
Sunday 13 May will see more than 10,000 participants take part in New Zealand’s largest Mother’s Day event across 33 locations nationwide, from Paihia to Invercargill, in efforts to improve the heart health of New Zealand women.
Now in its seventh year, Jennian Homes’ annual event supports the Heart Foundation’s ‘Heart Foundation for Women’ campaign. 2018 also marks the Heart Foundation's 50th anniversary year.
Heart disease is the number-one cause of death for women in New Zealand, claiming the lives of more than 50 women each week, and more than 3000 each year.
Rutherford will be attending the Ellerslie event and Hayward in Pukekohe.
Other past or present Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes include, bronze medallist boxer Alexis Pritchard (Ellerslie), Black Sticks silver medallist Aidan Sarikaya (Long Bay), canoeist Luuka Jones (Tauranga), shooter Natalie Rooney (Timaru) and netballer Shannon Francois (Dunedin).
This chance to meet these athletes arises from Jennian Homes’ partnership with the New Zealand Olympic Committee to help Kiwi athletes ‘Earn The Fern’ at the recent Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and at Rio 2016.
Above: Rio 2016 silver medal winner Natalie Rooney
Jennian Homes COO Aidan Jury has no doubt having the support of these Kiwi athletes will prove added motivation for everyone to get active and make a great start to their Mother’s Day.
“The Jennian Homes Mother’s Day Fun Run/Walk continues to grow in popularity each year and we are grateful for these athletes to lend a hand and help save lives and keep more families together.
“It just speaks volumes of everyone’s commitment, athletes and the public alike, to help ensure the women we love are with us for many years to come.”
This year’s event is expected to be the biggest yet, with events at 10 new locations, including Cambridge, Taupo, Napier, Blenheim and Wanaka.
And while the event is enthusiastically embraced by women all over the country, Jennian Homes is this year appealing for more men to get out and show their support.
“This event brings women and their health to the forefront, and it would be great to see the men in their lives taking an active support role - whether it’s looking after the kids so mum can get in some training, cheering her from the side lines or even lacing up their running shoes and joining in,” says Mr Jury.
For a full list of locations and to register for the 5km event go to http://www.jennianmothersday.com/