NZ Army Soldier Staff Sergeant on a mission for CanTeen

As an uncle of a CanTeen member, Staff Sergeant Alexander McKenzie knows all about the struggle CanTeen members face, and the benefits they receive from CanTeen. So to show his support of the charity, Staff Sergeant McKenzie is going to run continuously for 140km from Linton Army Camp to the Old Defence Headquarters in Buckle St, Wellington to raise money for CanTeen.

Uncle of CanTeener Wayne Cherry who was diagnosed with T Cell Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in February 2008, Staff Sergeant McKenzie has been inspired by his nephew’s fight with cancer and is using the 140km challenge as a warm up to the upcoming Commonwealth Championships in England where he will be representing NZ in the ultra marathon category.

They will be running through Shannon, Otaki, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Paekakariki, Porirua & Johnsonville on the way into Wellington, were they will run along Lambton Quay, Willis St, Tory St to Buckle St collecting donations along the way. SSgt McKenzie will be accompanied by a military vehicle with members from the Army and CanTeen in support.

SSgt McKenzie will set out on his fundraising challenge at midnight Friday 29th May and will be joined by the Deputy Mayor of Porirua, Cr Litea Ah Hoi, for part of the run. Invitations have also gone out to other local dignitaries and sports teams to join in the fun. SSgt Mckenzie anticipates he will reach Buckle St at 4pm Saturday 30 May.

CanTeen supports young people living with cancer and was established to ensure that no young person in New Zealand living with cancer should ever have to feel alone. SSgt Mackenzie has undertaken this run so that future young people living with cancer get the same support from CanTeen that his nephew did, while going through their own personal ultra marathon!

If you would like to donate money towards SSgt Mackenzie’s run, check out our fundraising page http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/CamptoCamp/ - where you can make a direct donation online.