MEDIA RELEASE 24-04-26 Kāpiti Run for Youth wraps for 2026 and distributed to Fundraising Partners

MEDIA RELEASE 24-04-26 Kāpiti Run for Youth wraps for 2026 and distributed to Fundraising Partners

Kāpiti Run for Youth wraps for 2026 and distributed to Fundraising Partners

Kāpiti Coast, Wellington, New Zealand Friday 24th April 2026: The Web Genius Kāpiti Run for Youth is ecstatic with the fundraising efforts of individuals, teams and business sponsors raising a record breaking $32,054.71.  Distribution of $22,151.55 to Fundraising Partners has taken place: 

Richard Calkin, the Founder of Web Genius says, “I am truly astounded with the amount raised this year when you consider the global financial challenges pressuring everyday lives of New Zealanders.  We put this down to the primary focus of the event being about uplifting rangatahi in our community.  Each of our 11 Fundraising Partners brings something unique to the table, from providing essential resources and mentorship to creating spaces where young people can thrive.  In short, they are creating a brighter tomorrow for the young people of Kāpiti, and we are grateful they choose to partner with Kāpiti Run for Youth on an annual basis.  On final reflection for 2026, Web Genius is humbled that since inception in 2011, we have raised and distributed $312,058 in total over that time to support youth in Kāpiti.

Similarly, Steve Jandrell, Web Genius CEO, makes it clear that funds from Kāpiti Run for Youth are distributed with transparency and no strings attached so each Fundraising Partner can decide how to invest the funds to support rangatahi initiatives in Kāpiti.  He goes on to say, “I am very proud of the team who believe in the kaupapa of this event.  They work with the guidance of Helene Judge, our contracted Campaign Manager, with the objective of raising as much as we can to make a difference in our community.  We are also extremely pleased with the second-year performance of our chosen fundraising platform on Raisley.  Again, it performed beyond our expectations with individuals and teams raising just under $10,000 of the total funds raised.  We will continue with Raisley in future years as it did not disappoint.”

2026 fundraising partners were Birthright Kāpiti, Kāpiti College, Kāpiti Impact Trust, Kāpiti Kindness Trust, Kāpiti Youth Support, No 49 Squadron Air Cadets Kāpiti, Ōtaki College, Paraparaumu College, The Shed Project Kāpiti, Work Ready Kāpiti, ZEAL Kāpiti.  Our fundraising model is based on a 70-30 split, meaning, 70% is paid to the Fundraising Partner chosen by the participant at the time of registration and 30% is retained to run the event.

We acknowledge and thank the 71 generous local Business Sponsors who have contributed $21,250 to the 2026 campaign.  Their brands will remain on our website until we open the 2027 campaign, please use their services when you can as their hearts, minds and money are firmly embedded in their community >> https://www.kapitirunforyouth.co.nz/sponsors

PLATINUM

Chatswood Kitchens, Mat P Dental, Mike Pero Mortgages | Dave Clemens, Mills Albert, Paraparaumu Medical Centre, Peter Jackson Plumbing

GOLD

Autocrash @ Kāpiti, Big Save Furniture, Business Kāpiti, Finman Services Paraparaumu, GTB IT Solutions, Kāpiti Food Fair, Kapiti Island Nature Tours, Klee Plumbers, Summerset on the Coast, Totalspan Wellington | Kāpiti | Horowhenua

SILVER

24/7 Fitness, AD Architecture, ANZIL PartyPerfect Catering, Boundary Tap & Kitchen, Brien Electrical, Coastal Medical Rooms, Coastlands Shopping Centre, Contract Air Services, Cuttriss Consultants, Dark Horse Coffee, Davis & Co Chartered Accountants, Delaney Mitsubishi, Fix It Roofing | Kowhai Guys, Harbour City Funeral Home, Kāpiti Removals & Storage, New World Kāpiti, New World Waikanae, Orange Medical, Orange Veterinary, Orizen Tyres Kāpiti, Paraparaumu Glass, Plumbing World Paraparaumu, Raumati Vet Centre, Riverbank Engineering, Snap Fitness Kāpiti, Thrive Chiropractic, YOURTravel & Tours

BRONZE

A1 Carpet Cleaners 2007, Affordable Granite Benchtops, Allan Gray Motors, Anam Cara Gardens, Andy's Barber Shop, Banana Leaf Malaysian Restaurant, Bens Buns, BSP Advisory Group, Bus Stop Café, CD van der Meer Builders, Coffee to Die For, DRA Nominees, Harcourts Paraparaumu | Preet Singh, Highway Vehicle Recovery, Homely Property Management, Julie's Little Crêperie, Kāpiti Coast Funeral Home, Kāpiti Hearing, Kāpiti Knitting & Lotto, NZ Ceilings & Interiors, Radical Investment, Raumati Sands Resort, Rose Electrical Kāpiti, Thai Lagoon Restaurant, The Soapbox Ōtaki | DOWCO, Vets on Riverbank, Waikanae Funeral Home, Waterfront Bar

LET’S celebrate the remarkable WINNERS on the day:

6k run – Jonathan Armstrong 21:20

6k walk – Alex Lyudin 46:37

12k run – Ben Dunkley 43:54

12k walk – Chris Lyudin 1:31:50

AND the RUNNERS UP:

6k run – Stefan Fairweather 24:22

6k walk – Brook Metcalf 50:40

12k run – Toby Lane 47:47

12k walk – Nicki Lyudin 1:34:44

We have looked ahead at the tide timetable and can announce the 2027 event will take place on Sunday 28 March 2027.  Keep an eye out for the Facebook event and the campaign launch later this year. 

We cannot run Kāpiti Run for Youth without in-kind sponsors and we thank them for their ongoing generosity of time, resources, advertising, and SPOT prizes: 24/7 Fitness, Beach FM, Captured By Friday Photography, Coffee to Die For, Kāpiti Business Projects, Kāpiti Chocolate Factory, Kāpiti Law, Kāpiti Party Hire, Moore Visuals, NZME, Paekākāriki Pops, Peter Jackson Plumbing, R-Line, Shoe Clinic, SignCraft Kāpiti, Speedy Signs Kāpiti-Porirua, Wellington Water Filters & Kāpiti Pure Water and Founder, Web Genius.

For further information, contact:

Richard Calkin | 021 396 184 

Steve Jandrell | 022 038 8995

Helene Judge | 027 244 9585 or Contact >>