22 February 2022
Aaron Carter is no stranger to running. He has participated in many of the Coastal Challenge events he has organised over the years as director of Total Sport Ltd. But even he had to dig deep to complete his latest event - a gruelling 50km run for charity, which has so far raised more than $70,000 for Harbour Hospice.
“It was hard - really hard,” he says of the 19 February challenge. “Not only because it was physically tough, but also very emotional.”
Aaron, who established Coastal Challenge 20 years ago and has raised more than $230,000 for Harbour Hospice since becoming its charity partner in 2012, ran the event for his mum Sandy.
Sandy had died at age 50 in Harbour Hospice care. Aaron turns 50 this year too and had wanted to mark the milestone with this extra special event. Sandy had been right behind Aaron when he launched Coastal Challenge and had lived to see the very first event. “She would have been chuffed to see it still going 20 years on,” he says. “And this would have meant a lot to her because Harbour Hospice took such good care of her when she was at the end of life.”
Aaron and his mum Sandy.
But the Auckland athlete also ran it for his nephew Zac, who passed away unexpectedly just four days before the event, at age 13.
Zac’s death almost saw Aaron pull out. “I was 100 per cent not going to do it. I just had nothing in the tank,” Aaron reveals. “But I was surrounded by good people and one friend in particular convinced me to do it. It proved to be my motivation; when it was hard there was a reason to keep my chin up and get it done.
“It wasn’t lost on me,” he continues, “that part of me was running for this kid who hadn’t really seen life and the other part was running for people who had, and who were finishing their days in hospice.”
Aaron was on his feet for more than 10 hours, completing the race with a close friend who was recovering from an ankle injury as they clambered over rocks and waded through sea water, “solving the world’s problems together”.
Most of the runners – there were close to 50 – took on the challenge because they’d been personally touched by hospice, and Aaron has been incredibly humbled by their dedication as well as the generosity of their supporters, who have donated well beyond the event’s fundraising target of $50,000.
“There are just so many good people out there. Our oldest participant, Greg Shaw, who at 67 raised the most money – more than $11,000 - was in hospital the week before and it definitely looked like he was not going to be able to do it. But he convinced his doctors that they should let him, and he did!” Aaron says. “That really restores your faith in humanity.”
Donate today to help Aaron and his incredible 50K For Hospice team raise an inspiring $80K for families who need hospice care. Every dollar raised helps provide specialist palliative care to anyone in your community who needs it.
