Run72 is an annual community event run by Lads without Labels to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health. During the event, University of Canterbury students, club and sports teams, staff, and members of the Christchurch community take to the pavement around UC to run for 72 hours, ensuring that there is always at least one person running on the course. This extraordinary effort was designed to draw attention to the fact that men made up 72% of suicides in New Zealand. Since the start of Run72 in 2021, this statistic has risen to 76%, a clear sign that male suicide deserves more attention this year than ever before. Funds raised at Run72 help support the Lads Without Labels Support Fund - ensuring more students can access professional help.
This year, we want more people on the ground at UC, more laps run, and more involvement from the UC community. We would love to have more UC staff involved this year! Come down to the C-block lawn and connect with students running laps around the campus. Alternatively, you could meet with other staff members and have a walking meeting, or even compete amongst your faculty to see who can run the furthest! Whether you walk a lap, run a half-marathon, or donate a few dollars to the counselling fund, your contribution will be greatly appreciated!
Runners will be continuously lapping the course from Tuesday, the 24th of September, to Friday, the 27th.
Last year in 2023, we collectively ran 18,036 laps, equivalent to 32,464km, or the same as running the length of New Zealand over twenty times! At the same time, we raised over $36,000 thanks to hundreds of generous donations, which meant over 240 hours of professional counselling sessions free for UC students.
Our goal for 2024 is to raise $72,000, and we need your help! Please support us and the UC community in September by contributing in whatever way you can to Run72!
https://www.ladswithoutlabels.org.nz/initiatives/run72