Queenstown Challenge Teams do the NZDF proud

8 October 2008

The three defence teams who took part in the Accor $10 Queenstown Challenge from 1- 3 October really did the NZDF proud.  Not only did they raise an amazing $32,000 for the Cure Kids charity, they also promoted our core values to the public as they raced from Auckland to Queenstown.

The NZDF teams were:

Navy: Sub-Lieutenant Fraser Toulmin and Sub-Lieutenant Darcy Topp

Army: Second Lieutenants (2LT) Nick Fuller and Ruth Tautari

Air Force: Flight Lieutenant Barbara Finlayson and Pilot Officer Sean McKeogh.

In the overall points tally the winners were the Swat Squad with 567 points, 2nd: ZM FM team - 563 points, 3rd: Navy Brass Monkey team - 558 points, 12th: Army Red Team - 495 points and 15th: Air Force team Steps Up - 474 points.

Prior to the event all teams participating in the Accor Queenstown $10 Challenge had to raise $7,000 for Cure Kids. 

The event has raised a record total of $400,000 for Cure Kids which will be used to help fund the national screening programme into inherited heart diseases as well as other vital medical research into children’s illnesses. Totals raised by the Services are as follows: Navy $12,386.75, Army $11,652.60 Air Force $7,783.78.

Cure Kids General Manager Simon Duffy, said the amounts raised are exceptional:

“Everyone involved in the race this year including competitors, sponsors and supporters have combined to raise a record amount of money and increase the Cure Kids profile throughout the country.  The event just gets bigger every year and it’s an absolute outstanding result.”

FLTLT Barbara Finlayson, based at Woodbourne, won the spirit of the race award for giving above and beyond throughout the challenge.

Barbara said of the experience: “The best part was meeting the Cure Kids ambassadors in each city and hearing their stories. That was the inspiration each day to get up and run or hitch in the wind and rain or the sunshine for these incredibly brave, wonderful children.

“The most difficult challenge was the bungy. Thank heavens only one team member had to jump. I collected money while Sean jumped and what a spectacular jump it was. Man he did us proud, a super dooper dunk that only saw his boots above the water line.

“This event has introduced us to groups of people; wonderful competitors, Cure Kids organisers who are very special people, Clued Up staff who thought up all the challenges and were awesome, the public who we were able to meet and talk about life in the Air Force, and the kids themselves who were the whole purpose of the race. 

“There isn't a $ figure attached to the value of us out there in the public doing this type of work. Having Chief of Air Force and the Warrant Officer of the Air Force see us off in Auckland was awesome and the public were really impressed that they were there.

“A huge positive is that Cure Kids fund medical research for many illnesses so by Defence supporting this we are targeting a large number of sick children and not just one group. This has been the experience of my life and I would definitely do it again if I had the chance.”  said Barbara.

To see images of the teams in action, please visit out Queenstown $10 Challenge Image Gallery.

Ends

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