Kuranui students participated in one of their most memorable pyjama parties, and all for a good cause, as part of the Cancer Society’s biggest fundraiser.

This year’s Relay for Life was held from Saturday, 20 March through to Sunday, 21 March. Twenty-six students made up the team that consisted of the Year 13 prefects, as well as a group of students from Year 9, 10 and 11.

Held at Clareville Showgrounds, teams took to the 444m relay track at 4pm on Saturday for a gruelling 16 hours of constant walking or running until 8am on Sunday. Each team carried a baton that is passed through team members that counted the number of laps and recorded the lap times. Kuranui finished 18th out of 36 teams, with over 300 laps, and a fastest lap time of approximately 53 seconds.

Deputy Head Girl, Emma Rose, said that placing wasn’t the important part of the fundraiser. “It’s all about celebrating life for those who have been through a cancer journey, and remembering loved ones lost to cancer, with the main idea being that those with cancer do not get to stop when they are tired, so neither do we,” she explained. 

The Kuranui team’s theme for 2021 was ‘pyjama party’, and all 26 team members were kitted up in their PJs to take on the challenge. The party atmosphere was made easier by the presence of hot food and drink trucks, as well as the live music that also kept going throughout the night.

Kuranui Music teacher Saali Marks and Head Boy Rowan Higgins

The teams were treated with a performance by Kuranui music teacher Saali Marks, who was spontaneously accompanied by Head Boy, Rowan Higgins, on the saxophone. The team shone in their Mana and Te Hiringa, as they continued to race throughout the night without complaint, shedding blood, sweat, and tears for this worthy cause. Head Girl, Briar Matthews said it was definitely a night to remember. “We all came together as a team and really pushed ourselves. I am so proud of the team’s efforts.”

HOPE with KC 2021

The fundraising goal was $1000, which was largely surpassed due to the dedication of the Kuranui prefects, who held three fundraisers in the week leading up to the event. On Tuesday, 16 March, the prefects held a coin trail during their school interval. A massive daffodil was drawn in chalk in the quad, and students and staff were invited to empty their pockets and place a coin on the outline. The next day, they held a ’mufti day’. Students were encouraged to come in non-uniform clothes for a gold coin donation. At the end of the week, they put on a sausage sizzle. While there were a few hiccups for the prefects, such as an empty gas bottle on the barbeque and spilt cooking oil, the team worked together for a fantastic outcome.

Every single member of the team put in the hard Mahi to support The Cancer Society. “The Relay For Life team would like to give a huge shout out to Deputy Head Boy, Ceejay Dennes, who organised all of the admin for the event, and his amazing parents Deb and Mike who chaperoned the event and kept us motivated during the relay with their sausages,” added Matthews. “The team would also like to thank all the staff who showed their tautoko throughout the fundraising and organising, and the students who all donated generously throughout the week.”

Kuranui College has a committed and passionate group of leaders who are ready to jump at every opportunity brought to them in 2021. We cannot wait to see where this year takes you!

Kuranui College Relay for Life team:

• Rowan Higgins
• Briar Matthews
• Emma Rose
• Jayden Drinnan
• Ceejay Dennes
• Abby Swanson
• Patel Schenk
• Jessica O’Neill
• Hazel Rippey
• Cameron Laing
• Jack Lewington
• Anna Laybourn
• Lachie Taylor
• Luke Rodger

• Josie Maddox
• Koby Dennes
• Cohen Walford
• Jack Cambell
• Georgia May Hill
• Olive Walker
• Eden Walford
• Harrison Soper
• Wilhemina Dell
• Maia Elmsly
• Indira McLellan
• Courtney Parlett

Written by Emma Rose. Article added: Friday 26 March 2021