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Millwater actor Will Hall is halfway through an 84km-long fundraising effort called ‘Four for Forty’ where he aims to complete four half-marathons in his 40th year and raise $4444.40 for Type 1 diabetes research.
Will is known for his television roles, which include Shortland Street, Nothing Trivial and most recently, cop Mike McCarthy in Westside.
As part of his 100km-a-month training, Will has been taking part in the Millwater Parkrun 8am every Saturday.
“It is the best way to start your weekend, it has given me the running bug,” Will says.
His Millwater runs are a “sleep-in” compared to his weekday running regime, where he leaves at 4.30am to run around Ōrewa, Millwater and Silverdale.
“I’ve seen lots of sunrises over Ōrewa beach – you can’t beat it.”
While local running events have kept him going, it is Will’s six year old niece, Sophie, who inspired him to start. Sophie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at two years old.
“I remember the bruises on her little heels from the prick test, it was heart-breaking,” Will says. “While there are ways to manage diabetes, for the families it’s every day. Even in just my Millwater running group, there are several of us who are directly affected by diabetes.”
Sophie has recently started using the FreeStyle Libre, a sensor that is inserted into the arm for 14 days and scans blood glucose levels, resulting in little or no blood glucose testing.
Because it makes controlling blood levels easier, it lessens the chance of long term complications including blindness, kidney failure and amputations.
“I have seen a really positive change in my sister [Sophie’s mum] since getting the new technology. It connects to an app on her phone, so she can see Sophie’s glucose levels while Sophie’s at school.”
The FreeStyle Libre is not currently funded in New Zealand, and Will says it is unlikely to meet the required criteria without further research. It costs Sophie’s family $105 every two weeks.
“All the money I raise will go to Cure Kids, whose research could make the FreeStyle Libre government funded.”
Will completed a half marathon in Sophie’s home city of Christchurch in June, and one in New Caledonia in August.
Next up is the Auckland Marathon on October 16, and finally, Queenstown on November 4.
As of September 23, Will has raised more than $1700.
Anyone who donates goes in the draw to win spot prizes, including running shoes and a Westside box set. Info: give.everydayhero.com/nz/fourforforty.
