Page 4 - TOH_Newsletter_November2024

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TE OMANGA HOSPICE NEWSLETTER
DECADES OF DEDICATION: HOW LOWER HUTT’S FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE HELPED SHAPE TE OMANGA HOSPICE
Since 1979, our hospice has been developed and shaped thanks to the generosity, support, and efforts of numerous individuals, groups, and businesses within our community.
Two significant contributors early on in our history were the Lower Hutt Police Force and Station 41 of the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade. Both have remained staunch supporters of the Hospice. The Police contribution began with a sponsored run in December 1979, when 22 members of the Lower Hutt Police ran from Rotorua to Lower Hutt. They took four days and collected $4,457 along the way.
In November 1980 the runners, known as the Plod Squad, again took to the roads to run from Auckland to Lower Hutt, under the leadership of Senior Sergeant Noel Wyn. That year the cheque presented to Te Omanga Hospice was for $12,355.
In 1981 the charity run was even more ambitious, from Rotorua to Wellington via New Plymouth, a distance of 796 kilometers. By 1982 the sponsored run was raising $21,932.
Station 41 began its own fund- raising marathon in 1983, which saw participants running a return journey between Lower Hutt and Palmerston North. Donated funds from this event went to the Palmerston North Hospice, with the bulk going to Te Omanga Hospice (the Fire Station’s local hospice).
By 1985 the two organisations were contributing an impressive $46,000 through their collective marathons to support Te Omanga Hospice.
In 1994, Community Constable – Petone, Mike Raynes organised a team of volunteers, including both police and non-police members. For the next 18 years, these teams continued to fundraise for Te Omanga Hospice (Hutt Valley and Wairarapa) by cycling the return journey between Lower Hutt and Palmerston North and collecting donations along the way.
Steve fondly recalls his experiences being part of these fundraisers: “The Fire Service was very community- oriented, and different stations were often involved in fundraisers. The runs were a lot of fun; I enjoyed the camaraderie and the fact that everyone was in it for a good cause.”
Lower Hutt Police Team.
Station 41’s Run Route
Day 1: Lower Hutt Fire Station –
Petone – Ngauranga – Waikanae
Day 2: Waikanae – Palmerston North
Day 3: Palmerston North – through Manawatū Gorge – Masterton
Day 4: Masterton – over the Remutaka Hill – Upper Hutt – Lower Hutt
Steve Godfrey, a Firefighter for 25 years, and a participant of the fundraising run for two-three years, now works at Te Omanga Hospice as the Equipment Coordinator. His role involves maintaining and delivering hospice equipment to patients receiving our hospice care in their homes.
With around
participating annually, the logistics of organising the runners, transport and accommodation was no small feat.
“At night, we would sleep on mattresses on the floor of fire stations. Each day, a Fire Service van transported those who were running that shift. Everyone would take turns so there would always be one person running at a time. The van would have its lights and sirens on and would shield the runners from the passing cars on the road.”
“Those who weren’t running that day, would take donation buckets around shops, businesses and streets collecting donations. The event finished on a Thursday night with a parade down High Street, Lower Hutt. It was late night shopping at the mall, so everyone would come out in support.”
40 runners