Roncalli are sending a team of seven year 10 students, one senior student and two staff members to participate in this years run.

Across three days, approximately 60 students from our nine network schools, run from Raetihi to Whanganui following the Whanganui river road in an effort to raise funds for the Young Neighbours trust. Each student is required to run 20km a day. Throughout the run the students are invited to stay at various Marae and are able to learn of and experience the rich culture and history of the Awa and the communities that surround it.

The Awa Run is a 4-day cultural experience where a group of about 65 year 10 students from Marist Network Schools run along the scenic Whanganui River in a relay of 5 km’s at a time to raise funds to support those disadvantaged communities where our Young Marist Programmes are based. The funds raised also allow our network of schools to offer scholarships to students from these communities to attend some of our schools. In fact, Roncalli currently hosts a scholarship student from Minginui, a very poor and isolated village in the Te Ureweras.

In addition to running along the Awa, the students are immersed in the rich Maori history and culture of the area. The fist night they will stay at the Ohakune Marae, the second night at Ranana Marae, and the third night at Parikino Marae. Along the way they will also visit Hiruharama (Jerusalem) where J.K. Baxter lived and wrote for many years.

This year we are sending a team of seven year 10 students (Brianna Grace, Grace Heke, Charlie Holden, Lucy Betts, Ben Cockroft, Adam Baird & Petelo Faha), one senior student and two staff members will also participate in the run.

The students are seeking sponsorship for the run and also selling Christmas truffles (1 dozen for $5.50 or 3 dozen for $15.00), please contact the College office if you would like to support the runners. Thank you!