Fifty Mini drivers will navigate steep mountain passes and potholes and push their vehicles to the limit as they travel 2300km from Paihia to Invercargill to raise funds for children’s charity KidsCan.
Team WCML have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people in Te Awamutu, as they raise funds for KidsCan. Photo: Jesse Wood
The event runs for a week from April 3 and loosely follows the route taken by the Blondini Gang in the 1981 New Zealand movie Goodbye Pork Pie.
Te Awamutu’s Gary and Trina White, are taking part in this bi-ennial Pork Pie Charity Run adventure.
Entrants apply a year in advance as the highly sought-after event, capped at 50 teams, sells out in minutes.
Teams cover their own expenses including accommodation, food and ferry crossings, and 100 per cent of the money raised goes to KidsCan.
KidsCan helps children in hardship by providing shoes, clothes, nutritious food and health items through programmes in schools and early childcare centres across New Zealand.
In 2023, the 50 teams involved raised $417,000.
“As a group we aim to raise $500,000 for KidsCan, which will go towards providing food and clothing to thousands of children living in poverty across New Zealand,” Trina said.
The $500,000 is estimated to support a further 1500 children.
The couple own Waikato Construction Management and are excited to have made the cut for the journey on the third attempt.
The Whites’ 2018 Mini Cooper S convertible 6-speed manual has been serviced, had a wheel alignment and is ready for some serious driving.
The fleet will take six days and seven nights to complete their journey.
“Gary and I will lead team WCML and drive our trusty Mini,” Trina said.
“Each team has started fundraising independently and WCML’s goal is to raise $30,000.”
Gary and Trina grew up in Northland, and it will be their trip through the country by road to Invercargill.
“We love giving back to our community and we love Minis. This was an opportunity that we saw to put the two together and explore our country with a big contingent of like-minded people,” she said.
Team WCML’s fundraiser thermometer for the Pork Pie Charity Run. Photo: Jesse Wood
As of Thursday, team WCML had raised $27,100 placing them second on the Pork Pie Charity leaderboard.
Before the journey, more fundraising will take place.
They also partnered with the Regent Theatre in Te Awamutu for a fundraising screening of Goodbye Pork Pie last weekend and have organised a raffle.
During the six-day journey, the Whites will be travelling in convoy, stopping at various locations for promotional activities, including schools and sponsor events.
“On day one, we will leave Paihia and end up at National Park. It’s a nine-hour driving day. Then day two will be cruisier as we travel to Wellington,” Trina said.
One of the first day highlights will see the fleet of Minis drive around the track at Hampton Downs Raceway.
The convoy will pass through Te Awamutu on April 4.
“We’ve been blown away with the support. Both businesses and individual people dipping into their pockets. From $1 to $2000,” Trina said.
“People have been so very generous. We live in an amazing community here in Te Awamutu.”
Waikato Construction Management owners Trina and Gary White will drive the length of New Zealand for charity next month. Photo: Jesse Wood
