A Martinborough father-of-two is hoping 24 hours of squash for charity this weekend will help prepare him for the rigours of a fundraiser run in the New York Marathon later this year.
Martinborough sports coach Marco de Groot said he would be "testing his passion for squash to the limit"from 4pm on Friday, when he will start playing non-stop for 24 hours to raise money for the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust.
The charity event, which is thought to be the first of its kind in New Zealand, has attracted the support of 60 regional squash players, along with Stuart Davenport, former World Squash No3 and US Open title holder, and motorsport master and CatWalk patron, Aaron Slight.
Supporters will each play 30 minutes to help the 47-year-old to achieve his goal at the Martinborough Squash Club.
De Groot is a member of the CatWalk Trust team that will run the IGC New York Marathon in November this year, although he is unsure which event will be tougher.
"However, I am sure playing 24-hours of non-stop squash will go some way towards preparing me for the mental and physical endurance required to run 42km in New York."
The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust was founded in 2005 by Catriona Williams, formerly one of New Zealand's leading international equestrian riders. Following a riding accident in 2002, she is now tetraplegic and confined to a wheelchair.
Williams is hoping to attend the event on Saturday, de Groot said.
Spectators and public are welcome to the club throughout the event with music, raffles and spot prizes also available to supporters leading up to the final hour of play, he said.
