Eccles came up with the idea for RoadyForRoadies back in 2018 with Morgan Donoghue, during one of their regular walks through Cornwall Park. The event has since grown to include locations in Christchurch and Dunedin as well and it's even been replicated in Australia. Eccles says the ethos remains the same: "it's all for a good cause".
The money will hopefully go a long way towards helping road crews maintain their credentials. "You need updated credentials to drive a forklift or an articulated truck, or climb up a roof... it all this requires money and constant updating," Eccles says.
"The roadies are at the bottom of the food chain on the production side. We can't do without them. They're often self-employed, part-timers, but we can't do without them," he adds.
Anyone who wants to join RoadyForRoadies can choose to take part on the full 16km walk or do a shorter 5km version if the full 16km feels too daunting.
Tickets are still available to purchase to take part in the walk.
The walk finishes at The Tuning Fork in Spark Arena, where entertainment and refreshments will be provided.
For those who can't join the walk, a Givealittle page has also been set up, taking donations to help road crews who might be going through tough times.
"It hasn't been an easy few years, to be honest," says Brooke Paterson, a roadie who has worked in the industry for six years and on shows including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and Foo Fighters.
"The lack of gigs has meant we're struggling - not just with money but also mentally and emotionally. There's just hardly any opportunities to pick up crew work at the moment. That's pretty difficult to handle."
"The dedication and hard work of road crews is just legendary," says four-time New Zealand Music Awards winner Hollie Smith, who will be taking part in the event on Friday, April 29.
"We'd never be able to put on the shows we do without the people behind the scenes, so being part of this fundraiser is the least we as artists can do to give back."
