It may have been a scorching 34 degrees, but that didn’t deter the GIB® team from lacing up their running shoes to support Kiwi kids diagnosed with cancer on January 19. 

A 60-strong team of GIB® staff and customers were among the 1784 runners and walkers who hit the track for the Crusaders’ annual charity event – a 12-hour Long Run designed to raise much needed funds for the Child Cancer Foundation.

Last year’s inaugural event saw participants run just over 5000 laps of Malvern and Rugby Parks, raising more than $50,000. This year the Crusaders with Heart Foundation hoped to double that, and thanks to the newly introduced Corporate Challenge - and the efforts of local businesses like GIB® - they smashed it out of the park, with 19,136 laps completed and more than $125,000 raised.  

Team GIB® completed 450 of those laps, with staff member Aaron Godfrey running a whopping 50 laps (the equivalent of 50 kms), before heading back to work for his afternoon shift in Dispatch! A total of 10 GIB® staff and around 50 GIB® customers and family members participated in what was a wonderful day out for an awesome cause. 

“It was such a cool event to be involved in,” says Winstone Wallboards Sales Support/Events Coordinator Stacey Beetham, who completed an impressive 20 laps throughout the day. “Everyone knows of someone whose lives have been impacted by cancer and the Child Cancer Foundation does such great work helping families get through the toughest of times. It felt really good to be out there supporting them.”

Stacey and Partnership Manager/SI Team Lead Clara Sumner kicked off the day, taking their place alongside hundreds of other runners for the 6am start. Over the next 12 hours the GIB® baton was passed multiple times as athletes stepped up to the plate to support the worthy cause. 

“We had huge support from our Club GIB® Installers, and the likes of ProBuild ITM, Fletcher Living and Summerset Retirement Villages – in fact, way more people than we expected turned up. It was the first week back at work for many of our customers, so asking them to stop work on Friday and come and help us was a big ask, but they all came along to show their support.  

“We had mums pushing prams, dads running and loads of kids participating, and when people weren’t doing laps, they were catching some shade in our big GIB® tent, where we put on snacks and gave out ice cream vouchers to the kids. For most people it was their first year participating, but they all enjoyed it so much that they have decided they are actually going to train for it next year so we can do even more laps and raise even more money for the Child Cancer Foundation.” 

The Long Run is one of several Crusaders events that GIB® is involved with, as a longstanding partner of the Christchurch-based rugby team.  

“This is our ninth year partnering with the Crusaders,” Stacey explains. “Every March we host Crusaders Kids Day at Rugby Park, giving kids a chance to get up close and personal with their favourite players. We also hold an annual Insights Evening where we invite along industry professionals, and the Crusaders coach and players share their insights on a situation they are going through.  

“We are delighted to now also be supporting The Long Run and are very much looking forward to doing even more laps next year. This year’s Corporate Challenge winners completed an incredible 1005 laps, so that’s the goal we are determined to beat!”