Hey everyone,

Exciting news coming your way about some awesome fundraising efforts for our young Kiwis across the country. But before we dive into that, let's catch you up on our counselling platform: we've provided close to 9,000 counselling sessions this year! Huge shoutout to all of you for the amazing support we receive, making it possible for us to keep doing what we do. Now, let's chat about the fantastic initiatives making waves in our communities.

Spotlight On Fundraisers: 24 Hours For Hope

If you need some inspiration to lace up your shoes and hit the streets for a run, look no further than Alex and Nick, two dynamic young Dads on a mission. They're gearing up for an epic challenge: a non-stop 24-hour run on Gumboot Friday 1st November, all to support our free kids counselling platform. Follow their journey on Instagram here as they train relentlessly for this incredible feat. This photo below captured them at the end of a recent training run where Alex was dressed as Forrest Gump and Nick ran in his wedding suit! Join the excitement, support their cause (their Givealittle page is HERE), and witness the power of determination in action!

"Gumboot Friday saved our boy. We were so broken. Today we have a happy 12 year old boy. With us at home talking with us about everything."

Nationwide Search: Are You NZ's Biggest L.A.B Fan?

Joel Shadbolt, lead singer of L.A.B is auctioning off his beloved Harley Davidson with profits coming to our charity. This Harley Davidson is not just any motorcycle — it's a unique piece of memorabilia associated with L.A.B, it's even been featured on one of their album covers. Owning this Harley Davidson means owning a piece of New Zealand music history, making it a valuable and collectible item for fans and motorcycle enthusiasts alike. This is a rare opportunity to own something special while also supporting a worthy cause. Tempted to take a look? This auction is live now on Trademe HERE, closing tonight Wednesday 17th April.

"I'm so very thankful such a great service and counsellor was available to my precious family at no cost. I really felt like we were slipping through the cracks there for a while, something I have seen around me all too often."

Our Next Campaign: Mullets For Hope

Cancel your haircut appointments because the mullet is coming back! Consider it a sign of solidarity and a sign of HOPE! This year we're encouraging anyone game enough to grow a mullet to jump on board. We want to get as many people as possible involved to spread the message that there is always hope, and what better way of doing this than with a glorious mullet out the back.

Keen to get involved? Check out the website HERE for details.

Join the movement: Gumboot Golf Club

I love golf, it offers a holistic approach to mental well-being, combining physical activity, social engagement, and connection with nature to promote a positive mindset and emotional resilience. Did you know we know have our own golf club? It's a virtual club so anyone in the country can join, AND every membership sold goes towards helping us on our crusade for better mental health outcomes.

Government Funding Update

In the policy documents released late last year, there was a commitment to put funding behind Gumboot Friday. We've been working through the paperwork requirements since then, and hope that by the middle of this year, we may see some of this flow through. The potential of this funding, on top of the generous donations we already receive from you all, will allow us to meet the increased demand we're seeing for more kids seeking free counselling sessions on the platform that we run. In the meantime, donations have been down by more than 20% in the last year, so we continue to ask for your support.

Thank you for standing alongside us on our mission to drive positive change around mental health.

Mike King

Founder - I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday