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Matthew Farrow describes himself as a ‘part-time’ runner, until lockdown that is.
The Wentworth College teacher is now taking on marathons, and recently used this as a platform to raise funds for Starship children’s hospital.
“I have always enjoyed sport but started running often during the first Covid-19 lockdown when I needed something to help me decompress after long days teaching at home over Zoom,” Matthew says. “I gradually ran more often and did a couple of races.”
His confidence grew, and in 2021 he entered his first Auckland Marathon.
“Since then I have not been able to stop running. It has become absolutely essential to my mental and physical health,” he says.
When training for an event he runs around 70km-90km a week. He has young children, so starts his runs early, and is back home in Manly by 6.30am.
The 36-year-old took on the Auckland Marathon again last weekend. Along the way he raised around $1000 for Starship Hospital.
“My son was in and out of hospital for procedures back in South Africa when he was very young so I know the stress a sick child puts on families. So to have a hospital in New Zealand dedicated to the care of our young tamariki is something I won’t take for granted.”
Over the recent school holidays, he met some of the young people at Starship who have had difficult starts in life.
“Thanks to the unwavering support of the Starship team, they have gone on to achieve extraordinary things,” Matthew says.
He says despite it being such a good cause, at first he was hesitant to ask for money because he knows how tough it is for families at the moment.
“When I did put my fundraising initiative out there to my colleagues, family, friends and school community, the response was amazing,” Matthew says.
As the paper goes to print he had raised just over $1000.
“Thanks so much to everyone who donated. Every donation will help these young superheroes who have faced so many challenges.”
