Auckland Marathon and the Superheroes Running for Starship

On Sunday 29th October, while most of New Zealand was tucked up watching the Rugby World Cup final, over 800 Team Starship runners laced up their sports shoes and took part in the 2023 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland marathon events.  

This incredible team of Starship superheroes strode their way around the marathon, half marathon, 11km Auckland Harbour Bridge traverse and 5km courses, together raising an incredible $160,000 (and climbing) for our national children’s hospital.  

Many of the Team Starship runners have personal Starship connections, they know first-hand how brave and courageous children and whānau are everyday as they tackle health challenges and injuries.  

Damian Sharkey, whose wife works in Starship’s oncology department, says he took on the challenge of the full marathon, because he’s “passionate about making a difference to the well-being of NZ’s children”. 

Nine-year-old Starship star Harri Brown sped around the 5km course in an impressive 20:26 minutes, just a few minutes shy of his much older adult competitors (with much longer legs!) Meanwhile some of our littlest Starship stars tackled the 2km kids race around the Viaduct Harbour. 

Our incredible Five Star Partners Barfoot & Thompson and Mercury came out in full force in support of Starship. Barfoot & Thompson rallied together a team of over 300 fundraisers, including Volley the teddy bear who completed the half marathon course nestled into top Barfoot & Thompson fundraiser, Wendy Smit’s backpack, while Mercury entered their own team for their first time, dubbed the “Mercury Superheroes.” 

Fundraising pages will remain open for a few more weeks, so for our mighty fundraisers, don’t forget to create an update on your page to thank your donors and remind those who may not have had the opportunity to donate to your efforts. 

Thank you to all the whānau and friend support crews, we know the runners couldn’t have done it without you. 

Finally, to everyone who walked, jogged, ran and fundraised for Starship, thank you. You are all superheroes! Your hard work will make a difference to Starship kids from right across Aotearoa New Zealand. 

We look forward to seeing you all again next year!