It was not all smooth sailing for domestic violence campaigner Rhys Blissett of Ashburton when he did his annual Run For Change NZ event.
The weather swung from “crazy hot” to snowing. And among overwhelming support from motorists, there were haters.
The 18-year-old did the almost 300km run on Labour Weekend, raising money for Women’s Refuge and hitting headlines around the country.
Blissett has an inspiring story to tell, he himself grew up as a victim of domestic violence.
He established Run For Change NZ last year, a movement based on Blissett doing an annual run to raise money for charity.
This year the run was Christchurch to Timaru and back again.
The distance was up from last year’s 137km Rolleston to Ashburton run when he raised $16,000 for Women’s Refuge.
‘‘Unfortunately, the weather didn’t hold up,’’ Blissett said.
‘‘Saturday was crazy hot, Sunday was windy and cold, Monday was super heavy rain and freezing temperatures, and Tuesday was snowing as-well as freezing temperatures.’’
Due to unsafe road conditions caused by the weather, he began his run the next day about 13km up the road, on the outskirts of Hinds.
Then, there were the haters – some people pulling fingers and name calling from their cars.
Blissett said they were not all road rage; he suspected some were against the cause of women’s refuge.
It had followed some negative comments on social media prior to the event.
‘‘But I think the hate just fuelled the event so much more and the positive support overpowered it.’’
And that positive support was huge – people tooting and cheering him on from their cars, some coming down to run part of the distance with him, some standing on roadsides waiting to cheer him on.
Supporters can still make donations, on the event’s Givealittle page.
As of Tuesday, $13,334 had been raised.
Blissett said a deadline date had not yet been set but would be in about two weeks.
He did not have a fundraising target. ‘‘I’m just super grateful for any donation we get,’’ he said.
He said he was looking forward to doing it all again next year.
Details, including the benefiting charity, were yet to be decided.
– Donate at 300km Run For Women’s Refuge! on Givealittle.
