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Par Four aim for hole-in-one fundraiser

 

 

JULIA WADE

thumbnail 11 MF-Mgolfcharity copy-629Three young men, including a long-term local, have come up with an ingenious way to raise cash for an essential health service – putting their ‘putting’ skills and swing action to the test to tee off on every minigolf course throughout New Zealand.

Mangawhai lad, 23-year-old Zac Roberts, and friends Kyle Sutcliffe, 24, and John Middleton, 25, aka ‘Par Four’, say ‘despite the ridiculous idea’ they have a sound aim - raising $2500 for the Mental Health Foundation of Aotearoa.

“There are over 80 courses in the country and we have three weeks to do it, meaning four courses a day with one course in Mangawhai,” Middleton says. “As well as money, we want to raise awareness for the Foundation, support Kiwi businesses in towns we pass through and show New Zealanders what a fantastic backyard we have.”

Travelling in a minivan, the trio set off from Auckland on June 20 ‘on a pretty tight schedule’ first heading south to Tauranga then Rotorua before touring the South island and heading north once again. They are due to hit Mangawhai’s ‘mini green’ around July 10.

“We currently have nearly all the minigolf courses on board, so far most of the courses we've contacted have said they'll let us play for free,” Middleton says. “Our main sponsor has been Greenhill Seltzers, but Vogel’s, Little Island, Kea Cookies and Coffee Supreme have all helped out too.”

The idea to combine minigolf with a fundraiser materialised during Level 4 lockdown – which the young men spent together in an Auckland flat – when Zac jokingly pondered the logistics of teeing off on every mini course in the country. All three had experienced some degree of struggle with mental health in the past, including the suicide of a friend as well as noticing the affect Covid-19 had on people’s psychology, the trio agreed raising money for the Mental Health Foundation would be a great idea Middleton says.

“Having regular minigolf games with a couple of mates was also something that got us out and helped us to relax,” he says. “The tour will be a challenge for us, but every day can be a challenge for people who may not have the resources they need to maintain a positive well-being and function well in their everyday lives. Donations will help the Foundation to provide people, workplaces, schools and communities with the tools they need to build positive mental health and well-being.”

n Want to know more or donate? Visit events.mentalhealth.org.nz/fundraisers/ParFour/95-minigolf-courses-for-mental-health, or Par Four Facebook and Instagram @par.four

 

Student chiropractor Kyle Sutcliffe from New Plymouth, Mangawhai local and descendant of the Wintle clan Zac Roberts now working at Skycity, and John Middleton from Motueka, currently doing a PhD in linguistics, are on a mission to raise vital funds for mental health. PHOTO/SUPPLIED


 
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