Times-Age, Breadcraft keep trust on track

Track Supporters: Lane sponsors of the Wairarapa all weather athletics track trust present cheques yesterday. From left Wairarapa Times-Age general manager Wendy Morrison, Trust Chairman Jonathan Hooker, Trust representative Tom Roseingrave, Breadcraft Manager Peter Rewi and Breadcraft accountant Julie-Anne Cockburn.
 
Funds are beginning to grow towards the $980,000 needed to build a new all-weather athletics track in Masterton.
Yesterday Breadcraft and the Wairarapa Times-Age presented sponsorships to the value of $5000 to each support a lane of the new track.
Wairarapa All Weather Track Trust Chairman Jonathan Hooker said "It's huge for us getting these contributions. These are the first 2 of 8 lane sponsors we need to find."
He said the support from the community had been amazing at a time when people and businesses were feeling the pinch.
"We've just reached the $50,000 mark that we needed to reach from the community to qualify for the council funding of $300,000 that we have won."
The trust still needs to raise another $400,000 he said.
Breadcraft manager Peter Rewi said he was happy to support a project that would benefit so many people. "We are a major promoter of sports and activity in the Wairarapa because we believe in promoting physical activity and health and well-being in our community."
Breadcraft employees would get good use from the track too, he said, joking that they would have to do a compulsory lap when the track was completed.
Times-Age general manager Wendy Morrison said a major part of the newspaper's business revolved around sport.
"We report local sport, we celebrate its successes and we encourage participation every day in our newspaper. We believe the track would be a wonderful addition to the sports scene in Wairarapa and we're thrilled to be able to get behind it in a tangible way," Mrs Morrison said.
Mr Hooker said the Trust hoped work would start on the track next summer.