Fruitloop takes a year’s holiday

The annual Fruitloop fundraising frolic through private vineyards, orchards and olive groves in Matakana is taking a one-year hiatus.

First held in 2011, it was set-up by the Matakana Community Group as a means of financing the walkway/cycleway. The 7km fun walk/run, which encouraged participants to dress up as part of the fun of the day, was normally held around March.

Last year it raised $35,000 and attracted more than 700 walkers and cyclists.

But the community group has been a victim of its own success.

The increasing size of the event, and accompanying regulatory requirements, has prompted a handover to a professional management structure, although the principal of the company is continuing to contribute a considerable amount of time on a pro bono basis.

Group chair Simon Barclay says many hours of voluntary work were involved and there were normally at least 40 volunteers needed on the day to provide health and safety coverage, marshalling of roads, administration and entertainment.

“The organisation of Fruitloop simply became too much for the volunteers who had previously coordinated the event,” Simon says.

The next Fruitloop will be held at the Matakana Country Park on Saturday March 5, next year, and it is proposed to combine the event with a new Matakana Food and Wine Festival.