Charities

Improving the mental health of young people in the Pohutukawa Coast was the main focus of fundraising for this event in 2018. See the History page.

Money from the 2018 event helped a number of young people with mental health issues in the Pohutukawa Coast area by paying for counselling that their families were unable to afford. We thank the Beachlands Medical Centre for their support in making this possible.

From 2019 onwards this was widened to include the health and wellbeing of all young people in the Pohutukawa Coast area. As well as young people with a need for mental health therapies, local foodbanks and young adults looking to take part in sporting or leadership training were helped. Some of the activities in 2020 were postponed due to COVID-19.

In 2020 we partnered with the Key to Life Charitable Trust who run I am Hope, fronted by Mike King. The trust tries to create greater awareness around suicide and mental health in New Zealand. The Rotary Board felt that the trust was a good fit with what we were trying to achieve with young people in the Pohutukawa Coast area. Some of the funds raised were also presented to the Totara Park Riding for the Disabled.

In 2023 funds raised from that event and from 2022 were combined with the GJ Gardner Beachlands & Maraetai Trolley Derby to make grants available to groups and individuals in the community. The funds were dispersed in September 2023 to Takutai Trust, Te Puru Sea Scouts, Beachlands Maraetai Rugby Club, Rescare Auckland, Beachlands Maraetai Playcentre and a local young adult to attend Spirit of Adventure.

Since 2023 a similar funding process for groups and individuals has taken place. The latest funds were dispersed in May/June 2025 to the Community Response Team, Bellyful East Auckland, Equine Assisted Therapy, Maraetai Beach School, Beachlands School, Beachlands Maraetai ANZAC Committee and Menshed Beachlands-Maraetai.