Girls’ High Learning Support students clock up the kilometres for Cancer Society fundraiser

Girls’ High Learning Support students have been clocking up the kilometres in a fundraiser for the Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society. Pictured on one of their regular hikes to the Beacon Reserve are Marygene Hemana, Matawai Saywell-Haapu, Tilay Taingahue, Toni Durston, Shay Podjursky (Cancer Society), Buggy Pari, Ella Harvey-Bennett, Te Rina Taukamo, Lucy Hope-Pearson, Faith Stephens and teacher Jo Graham. Picture by Liam Clayton

Learning Support students and teacher aides are well ahead of their fundraiser target in the Cancer Society’s Marathon for a Month.

The Gisborne Girls’ High School group can often be seen walking on the return trip from the Beacon car park to the tennis courts adjacent to Waikanae Beach Holiday Park as they aim for the marathon mark of 42 kilometres.

A wide range of other activities such as baking biscuits and shortbread, growing vegetables, making salads, coffee or hot chocolate, and Christmas decorations and on-selling to staff and whānau add to their fundraising campaign.

But there is a purpose in the school’s campaign in addition to altruism and support for the Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society.

“There is literacy, there’s numeracy, there’s baking, there’s participation,” said teacher Jo Graham.

“The students are fully involved.”

She loves their enthusiasm.

“They take every opportunity with a positive attitude.

“The girls are stepping up, taking orders, selling and working out the change.

“They have been the drivers.

“They will say ‘lets’ go for a walk’, or ‘can we do some baking today’?”

The original aim was to raise $350 but the tally is already over $1000 and still going up.

Asked what she enjoyed most, student Matawai Saywell-Haapu replied, “Just having Jo here.

“She makes my life so happy.”

Ms Graham said hearing that was a “privilege, a joy to my heart”.

“These girls have so much potential.”

Matawai and Lucy Hope-Pearson and their classmates  support other community organisations such as providers the Sherwood Club by growing potatoes for the Sherwood Club’s (Alzheimer’s) Spud in a Bucket fundraiser.

The students also attend integrated classes.

Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society fundraising and events coordinator Shay Podjursky said the Girls’ High learning support group “jumped on board” to support the Marathon for a Month.

“We are really proud of these young ladies and their teachers, and the effort they have put into this campaign.

“They have really taken on the idea that ‘little and often’ builds up to create meaningful change, both in their fundraising and their physical activity and their contribution to Marathon In A Month will make a positive difference across our community.”

The goal for Marathon for a Month is to complete 1.4km each day of physical movement for the month of November, which totals the equivalent distance of a full marathon by the end of November.

Teams and Individuals are sponsored to complete their activity, which can be running, walking, cycling, swimming, even skipping — any movement counts.

The message is that little and often adds up to create better, healthier lifestyles and helps to lower the cancer risk.

Another key participant is Lucinda Candy, who is just a few kilometres away from reaching her goal of 120km across the month.

Ms Graham, three teacher aides and about 10 students make up the Learner Student Unit group supporting the cancer society’s Marathon for a Month.

The students love updating their tally of kilometres run as they try to reach the 42 kilometre mark.