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Blake Schimanski has set out on a challenge so tough that few people would even contemplate it.
On April 1 the east Auckland local began his mission to run the length of New Zealand, starting at Bluff at the bottom of the South Island.
He’ll cover about 110km per day, on foot, and hopes to reach Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island 18 days later.
Schimanski is undertaking the challenge with the goal of raising about $100,000 for the mental health charity I Am Hope, which provides services including free counselling for young Kiwis.
“It’s pretty important to me because in 2018 I lost my best mate to suicide,” he says.
“Since then I’ve done a few different things. I started off doing half-marathons and raising money for I Am Hope.
“Then it progressed. I did a 100km ultra-marathon and thought I’d take the next big step up and try to do that 100km a day for 18 days.”
Schimanski plans to run beside State Highway 1 for most of his journey and he’ll be accompanied by his support crew, consisting of his parents and brother, in a campervan.
“One of them will be on a bike following me most of the way so on the dangerous parts I can be protected by the bike a bit,” he says.
“I’ve driven the North Island to see what the roads are like. There’s a couple of sketchy spots so I have to try to be careful.”
He expects to begin each day at about 5am.
“I’ll just go until I complete the 110km, which will probably be between 13 and 16 hours depending on how many hills there are.”
Schimanski has created a Givealittle page to accept donations for his fundraising mission.
He also raised $10,000 at a fundraising event at Action Indoor Sports Pakuranga.
He needs to raise a substantial amount of money to cover his costs during the run including for travel to Bluff, the ferry to Picton, food and drink, and accommodation over the 18 days.
“I don’t want to sleep in the campervan the whole time as it will get pretty stuffy,” he says.
Petrol for his support crew is generously being sponsored by his employer, Dalton Electrical.
Among the people backing Schimanski’s efforts is east Auckland local, former Kiwis league representative, and I Am Hope culture and well-being ambassador Richie Barnett.
“I think the purpose he’s doing it for hits a note with our organisation,” Barnett says.
“Losing someone to suicide has a ripple effect. Our mission is to drive positive societal attitude change to how people view mental health.
“How to open the door and normalise counselling – what everyone goes through, which is that overactive inner critic who doubts us.
“If we can be open enough and talk about it enough and get people like Blake to do what they’re doing, it’s going to help people to say this is a normal way of thinking but if it’s impacting you, counselling is an option.
“We’re right behind it and I’m right behind what Blake is doing.
“I know what sport looks like and how hard it is. He’s putting himself to the test, but he’s doing it for the love of his mate he lost and there’s no better thing than that.”
To support Schimanski’s mission, go online to www.givealittle.co.nz and search for ‘Run Aotearoa for I Am Hope’.
