Open for Adoptions Now! Thanks to Rotorua District Council for this concept. And particularly to Jo White of Sport Bay of Plenty for the hard work in coordinating - with us (and our runners), the schools and the children - and seeing it through. Over 80 runners (and some walkers) from various locations such as the US or Australia, the South Island, or within Rotorua itself, volunteered to be adopted by classes of school children from the local Rotorua area. This was a huge success – and read more on this ‘Adopt a Runner’ report. We hope to be able to repeat this each year. At left: Glenholme School children supporting their adopted runners Owen and Patricia at the Finish Chute 2009

For 2010 we will continue with this great initiative. Please see below on how to register your interest in being adopted - we are now open to taking names. Please note this does close off on Wednesday 3 March.

Rotorua schools are keen to give their support to all Lion Foundation Rotorua Marathon runners, and join in the 45 year anniversary. To help them lend their support we need your help by volunteering yourself for adoption! If adopted, your email contact information will be given to a classroom who will:

• Email you a maximum of 5 questions which could relate to training, nutrition or whatever may interest them.
• On the day of the Lion Foundation Rotorua Marathon the classroom will look out for your number and cheer you on as you pass.  
• Following the race the classroom will send you a congratulations email with a few more questions about how the race went

If you are keen to be adopted please email me your name, race number, your home town/country, estimated finishing time, and how many marathons you have run.  Please note 'Adopt a Runner' in the subject bar of the email - if you do not you may not be added.  (email info@rotoruamarathon.co.nz)
I’ll then forward your details to Sport Bay of Plenty (who are coordinating this aspect) and they in turn will match you with a school. The class then takes over from there. 
We won’t give out any phone details etc, but as you form a relationship with the class, you can provide any information you wish. And if we get inundated with runners wishing to be adopted, we may have to have a ‘ballot’ – but hopefully each person will be supported by local school children. Lucky you!! 

The schools can also use this as an ICT based project – so not only will you hopefully help them learn about the great sport of running, but they’ll apply the information you are able to give them in a constructive way.