Shorty Star and friends finish North Island run for charity

Despite a meningitis scare and existing on average four hours sleep each night Shortland Street star Ido Drent (Daniel Potts) and the team from Many Miles For Mary powered into Auckland today, having completed a 900km run from Wellington to Auckland.

All ten of the team including the runners and support crew [ran the last 52kms and] crossed the line together at Ronald McDonald House Auckland.

The team left Wellington eight days ago with four runners but due to a sudden illness, Ido Drent had to pull out of the event on the second day.

“Waking up with chest pains, a high temperature and a rash was a pretty daunting experience and I had to make a hard decision about whether to keep going with the run or admit that I needed to give my body a break, but in the long run I think it was the right decision,” says Drent.

The three remaining athletes made up for Ido’s absence, running an extra 10km a day, a total of 40km for each runner each day.

However Drent was determined to continue with the challenge and after three days of recuperation he re-joined the team in Tauranga as support crew. “It was great to be with them again, to continue my support of their mammoth efforts in order to raise as much money as possible for Ronald McDonald House,” says Drent.

Event organiser and runner Jamie Milne, says “Moral was pretty low when Ido left, but after staying at the Royal New Zealand Army Marae with warmth and understanding, the team’s spirits were uplifted to the required mindset and Mana for the toils of the road.”

When the team wasn’t out smashing the tar seal with their running shoes, they were out in towns rattling buckets to raise their target of $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House.

Wayne Howett, CEO RMH Auckland says, “We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks and gratitude to those who have given generously thus far. The support for the charity and the team from MMFM has been overwhelming.”

Funds raised will go towards the stage two development of the RMH Auckland Grafton Mews family accommodation facility.