EIT tutor to run 20 hours non-stop for charity
On February 14 at 7pm, Andrew McCrory will set off for a 155-kilometre-run that could change the life of a Kiwi child suffering from cerebral palsy.
Andrew, who teaches on EIT’s Services Pathway programme, will be running around Lake Taupo to raise money for kiwi kids who need selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery. The surgery corrects muscle spasticity by restoring the communication between the brain, spinal cord and muscles which allows little patients to potentially walk again. Andrew started to fundraise in 2017 when a friend’s daughter who has cerebral palsy drew his attention to the issue.
For Andrew it is not so much about the amount of money he is able to raise, rather getting a message out that SDR surgery can make a difference for many children in the country.
“It’s such a worthy cause. SDR surgeries get zero government funding and they are such a life-changer for these children. When you see the little patients making their first steps, you can’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion.”
The surgery costs $ 150,000 and New Zealanders have to travel to the United States to undergo the procedure.
Andrew reckons that he will be on his feet for around 20 hours. Even though his wife and some friends will support him along the way, it will be a challenging night running on the main road. Andrew has never been a runner.
“I’ve done weightlifting before getting into running. In preparation for the event I’ve done four days of running training plus two days of gym a week.”
If you want to support the good cause, visit Andrew’s Facebook page “Running for SDR” and donate here: JA Goodall & AH McCrory, 03-0642-0062529-000.
