100 Dads Run Christchurch Marathon to Fund 12,000 Lunches
Former All Black Colin Slade is leading 100 fathers through the Christchurch Marathon to raise $100,000 for hungry school kids. The group has already reached $70,000 toward funding nearly 12,000 lunches for children facing food insecurity.
When Colin Slade traded his rugby career for fatherhood, he didn't expect to find his next team at a park before sunrise.
The former All Black joined a local running group called The Fendalton Flyers, where fathers meet at Hagley Park every Thursday morning. What started as a small gathering has grown into a 100-strong team with a powerful mission: raising $100,000 to feed hungry school children.
Slade recruited former teammates Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty to help lead the charge. Together, they're running the Christchurch Marathon for Full Bellies, a grassroots charity providing lunches to local students who don't have enough to eat.
The goal is ambitious but clear. Every dollar raised funds nearly 12,000 meals for kids who might otherwise go hungry during the school day.
As of Monday, the group had raised almost $70,000. With the marathon's record turnout of more than 8,000 participants, momentum is building fast.
Slade says the "everyday blokes" in his group aren't chasing competition or personal records. They're after something deeper: the accountability and camaraderie that comes from being part of a team working toward something bigger than themselves.
Kate Pauling, founder of Full Bellies, called the initiative "community in action." Her charity works directly with Christchurch schools to ensure no child sits through class with an empty stomach.
The runners will tackle a 10.6km looped course that winds past the Bridge of Remembrance and One New Zealand Stadium. While most are regular dads juggling work and family, they've committed to training together and crossing the finish line for local kids.
The Ripple Effect
This father's running group shows how retired athletes can channel their competitive spirit into community impact. Slade found what many former professionals search for after leaving the spotlight: purpose, connection, and a way to serve others.
The Fendalton Flyers prove you don't need a stadium or a championship to make a difference. Sometimes the most meaningful victories happen before sunrise, one training run at a time, with a group committed to showing up for each other and their community.
One hundred ordinary dads are about to run for 12,000 reasons.
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Based on reporting by Stuff NZ
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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