My Activity Tracking
369
kms
My target 210 kms
I’m taking on the House to House challenge to give back to Ronald McDonald House
Every year, thousands of families from around New Zealand will turn to a Ronald McDonald House for free accommodation and support during their child’s medical treatment.
In 2020 we were one of those families, as our youngest son Jimmy was transferred from Dunedin to Starship for heart surgery at only 7 weeks old. The staff and facilities at Ronald McDonald House were outstanding. At the most scary and difficult time of our lives we received genuine care and compassion from the staff, and we were supplied with great food and clean and comfortable accomodation. Staying at Ronald McDonald House allowed us to devote all of our time and energy to our brave wee lad while he was in Starship.
Our story does not have a happy ending unfortunately as Jimmy passed away 3 days after his surgery due to complications.
However amid the heartbreak of losing our son we will be forever grateful to the team at Ronald McDonald House for their care and support during our time with them. This care and support was extended to our children and parents as they traveled at Starship at short notice to say goodbye to Jimmy. That is why I am taking part in the House to House challenge, to try to give back to a truly amazing organisation, who make an invaluable difference for families facing the unbelievable journey of having a child seriously ill or injured in hospital.
The aim of the House to House challenge is to walk, run or cycle at 210kms over the month of March and to raise at least $210 so Ronald McDonald House can continue to support families in need.
I have decided to make my fundraising goal $1,426, as this was the distance in kms that Jimmy travelled from Dunedin to Starship Hospital. I will also aim to cover as many kms as possible.
You can help me to help them by giving whatever you can using the 'Give Now' button. Please know that truly every little bit helps, and as well as helping Ronald McDonald House your support will also help me to do something to honour Jimmy and his journey to Starship.
The more people that know about RMHC® New Zealand, the greater their impact, so please also spread the word by sharing my page with your friends and family.
Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot!
My Achievements

First Activity
Complete 1KM

You’re on the right track
25% of activity goal

Half Way
50% of activity goal

Keep Moving
75% of activity goal

Finish Line
100% of activity goal

First Donation
Raise $1

Off and racing
25% of fundraising goal

Fundraising Star
50% of fundraising goal

Almost there
75% of fundraising goal

Fundraising Champion
100% of fundraising goal
My Updates

Oh no!!
Sunday 28th Mar Potential disaster has struck for my last few days effort in the challenge- yesterday while walking the pineapple track in Dunedin with my friend Ash and our dogs I rolled my ankle on some uneven ground. After the initial hurt subsided it didn’t seem too bad, and we kept going but by yesterday evening I was in serious pain and my ankle had swelled to look like I had a golf ball under my skin! .
Still going
Thursday 25th Mar The end is in sight (Wednesday next week) but I’m still going strong, hopefully I will make 420kms by the end which is double the start goal.
A change of pace and scenery
Thursday 18th Mar I’m in Invercargill for work today and I’ve got a break between meetings so I’m ticking off a few kms in the gorgeous Queens Gardens. It’s a change of pace cause I’m in a skirt and heels, and I can’t go getting all sweaty but it’s such a gorgeous day and I wouldn’t be making any progress sitting in a cafe ( although a good coffee would be lovely) Share
Made it to 210kms
Tuesday 16th Mar Last night in the middle of a walk with my dog Jem, I hit the 210kms mark. I’m feeling pretty proud about this seen as it’s only halfway through the challenge, so I’m going to take on another 210kms before the month is out.
Thank Goodness it’s Friday
Friday 12th Mar And what a beautiful sunny Friday it is too. This morning I joined one of the teams at work as the walked up the Big Easy Mountain bike track in Dunedin (Logan Park up to Signal Hill). It was such a great day for it, and certainly beat sitting at my desk for the morning, and as an added bonus I ticked off another 10kms.
The kms fly when you’re having fun
Tuesday 9th Mar I ticked off 12 kms today and it really didn’t feel like a big effort at all. I went for a lunchtime run with my workmate Ryan and we covered 6 kms. I was a bit nervous cause Ryan is a trillion times fitter and faster than me but it was a good run, he talked effortlessly throughout, I gasped and grunted and made a mental list of replies for when I got my breath back 😂
5kms shy
Sunday 7th Mar Well it’s been 7 days since I started the challenge and I’ve just come in from a run on this windy Dunedin evening which makes 95kms done this week. I considered adding a few more blocks this evening to round out the first week to 100kms but it was seriously blustery out there and I just couldn’t do it- the wind is not my friend 😂
Little legs doing some big kms
Saturday 6th Mar Ellie and Sam have been super keen to join me on my walk/run/bike rides each day for the challenge and I’ve been super impressed with how far they are pushing themselves. This morning their little legs smashed out an 8km bush walk with me and Blair, with minimal complaints too 😂
And it begins!
Monday 1st Mar Day 1 today and I’m really excited to get started on this challenge.Thank you to my Sponsors

$1,000
Ellie & Sam

$1,000
Grandma & Grandad
always with love

$500
Mum & Dad
Good Luck Sara; we know you can do this! We are so proud of you xx

$210
Jack/kat/jamie Logan
You got this!! Good luck x x

$210
Nat & Avan Ross
Kia kaka Sara.

$210
Michelle Pearce
Good luck and all the very best

$200
Debbie Watson

$200
Angela And Gareth
This is so awesome Sara! Such a lovely way to honour wee Jimmy. x

$200
Kim Smith
Such a great cause, sending love to you and the family xxx

$100
Teresa Morrow
Well Done Sara such an awesome effort forever in our hearts Jimmy

$100
Ross Family
You've got this in the bag Sara!! Proud of you xx Ross Family

$100
Vosper/bradford Whanau
We love ya Sara. You'll smash it!

$100
Grant Family
Sara, Blair, Ellie and Sam we love you all so much. What a wonderful thing to do in memory of Jimmy and in support of such a wonderful organisation xx

$100
The Chub Club

$100
Steve Redmond
Sorry to hear about your loss Sara All the best with the fundraising for a wonderful charity

$100
Aunty Hannah, Kaleb And Roro Xx
For our wee jim xx

$100
The Comleys
You've got this Sarz!! Sending lots of love xx

$100
Denise Dickson

$100
Chrissy Black

$100
Anonymous

$100
Patrina & John Melrose
With much lovexxx

$100
Ann Roughan

$100
Shona Read

$100
Hayley Quagmire
Proud of you sis x

$100
Kelly Hackett
💙

$80
Jan-maree Anderson
Well done Sara.

$80
Linda And Ivan Roxburgh
With our love

$80
Sarah And Pete Gibson
Amazing thing to do Sara. I have just had a flash back to intermediate when we both HATED P.E. and would run so slowly around that field! You will smash this goal now though. All the best to you and your family xx

$80
Anonymous

$50
Elspeth Wombwell
Best wishes Sara

$50
Sam

$50
Amanda, Alice And Kate
XX

$50
Vic And Michelle Crutchley
Much love to you all from us xx

$50
Keryn Broughton
What a wonderful thing to do in memory of Jimmy. Much love x

$50
Lee Jarman

$50
Betty
All the best Sara.

$50
Rena & Andy Murphy

$50
Puspa
You got this, Sara!

$50
Karen And Lloyd Smith
So sorry for your heartbreaking loss. From Karen and Lloyd Smith (your customs family)

$50
Suzanne Smith

$50
Shaun Fujimoto

$50
Coral

$50
Rachel Yakas
You've got this Sarz 💙 Lots of love x

$50
The Shoppers
we know you can do it

$50
Emma Phillips

$50
Ryan Edwards

$50
Ross Paul & Debbie Clarke

$50
Nicholls Family

$50
Sara Stones

$50
Karen & Mike Bennet
This is such an awesome thing to do Sara, support you and yr family all the way 😘

$50
Wayne Watson
Love to all

$50
Tessa Jowett

$50
Elizabeth Beckwith

$50
Kylie Makgill
I can't imagine your loss but my heart goes out to you and your family and this is a amazing thing to do. xx

$50
Marg & Geoff
Only too happy to help ❤️❤️

$50
Kiran

$50
Graham Colson
Good luck hope this helps

$50
Martin Spinks
Great cause Sara & so close to your heart, wishing you huge success. Martin xx

$50
Chris Cobra
Fantastic work Sara, and what a worthy cause.

$50
Kc
❤️

$50
Nick, Nat, Emmeline, Marissa
Good on you Sara. Great cause. They were there for us in 2019, and was touched how awesome they are.

$50
Abbey King
You never cease to amaze me Sara x In memory of your beautiful Jimmy xx

$50
Alana Mcgregor
💙💙💙

$50
Shelley Pomana
What an amazing cause Sarz, Jimmy is forever in our hearts. So proud of you xx

$40
Anbrr Mcdonald

$40
Anonymous
From one parent of angels to another

$40
Phil And Annie Mcgregor

$40
Anonymous

$40
Tracie Cookson

$40
Boylan Whanau
Good on you Sara! ❤️😘

$40
Tim Williams

$40
Dan Brice

$40
Bobbie
You are amazing Sara! Go smash it x

$40
Amy Pile
Amazing Sara!

$40
Maxine Mccort
❤️

$40
Gaylene

$40
Aimee Creasy

$40
Kate Senior
May the force (of whoever you choose) be with you.

$40
Holly Attfield
Well done Sara! All the best chick xx

$40
The Brierleys
Proud of you Sarz, Go hard girl, in memory of beautiful Baby Jimmy ❤️ Love stace x

$40
Jade Moore
Good luck Sara xx

$40
Charlotte
Thinking of you Sara. What a great thing to do.

$40
Katie Clarke
Awww this is amazing Sarz! ❤️❤️ You’re awesome.

$30
Kylie
Arohanui x

$30
Jenkins Family
Sending you so much love xx

$30
Kelly Cross

$30
Tapp Family

$25
Rhonda Gamble

$25
Hannah Jones
Sara you are amazing! Jimmy would be so proud 💙

$25
Ngaire Johnson
Stay Strong, Love you all👩🏻💜💖

$25
Jennifer Litchfield

$21
Megan Carter
Sending hugs and best wishes

$20
Parvern Singh
Amazing work

$20
John Gordon
Delighted to help you out Sara - good luck and I hope you make it !

$20
Andrew M

$20
Leanne Bernasconi

$20
Lihsia Luke
Go Sara!

$20
Jake, Ruby, Leo

$20
Katrina Roberts
Go Sara!! Lots of love to you and your family! X

$20
Suzanne Craik

$20
Anonymous
You are such an amazing family Sara. Sending you all so much love

$20
Abby Dummer

$20
Ben Payne
Great work Sara. Our love to you, Blair and family

$20
Laura Wood
💙

$20
Rochelle Crooks
Awesome job Sarz for a great cause X

$15
Kim Smith
Good luck Sara - you’re amazing. All my love to you, Blair, Ellie and Sam. ❤️

$15
Stephanie Macaulay

$15
Mike Evans
Well done with your challenge Sara. You guys are always in my thoughts.

$15
Anonymous

$15
Heather Whitmee

$10
Susie Smith

$10
Lucy Dougall

$10
Deanna Hollis

$10
Marie Gordon

$5