ASICS Kepler Challenge Charity Challenge

What started it all off?

In 2008 the organising committee came up with the idea to help raise vital funds for the new medical centre in Te Anau. The $10,000 raised was donated to the Fiordland Health Trust which was set up to establish an integrated health centre in the area. With the relatively small population of Fiordland, fundraising for the substantial amounts of money needed to keep this massive project going took a long time.

After many years of fundraising, work is now complete on the community health centre and it is up and running. Designed to be a dedicated ‘one-stop-shop’, it replaced the existing medical centre which had been outgrown by the increasing local population in Southland and the hundreds of thousands of visitors coming to Fiordland National Park each year. 

The Kepler Challenge Committee was proud to help raise funds for such a vital community asset and the 'Charity Challenge' was set to become a fundraising fixture of future events.

Since numbers were increased to a field of 450 the committee now makes 15 spots available each year. To get your Charity Challenge space for this year...read on.

To enter as a Charity Challenge Runner

Charity Challenge Spots are advertised as available on the website, usually sometime in May/June.

After registering and in order to secure your entry you will be asked to complete the following:

  • Complete your registration details
  • Arrange payment of $1000.00 to the Kepler Challenge account within the time frame specified.    

We like to take the opportunity to raise the (charity name) profile by publicising the Charity Challenge entries, although your donation can remain anonymous if you wish.

How to apply for the fund

Selection criteria

Please read the following criteria carefully. Proposals to the Charity Challenge Community Fund should clearly articulate project outcomes and benefits for the Fiordland community, specifically how the project will:

  • contribute directly to the community
  • generate benefits that do not presently exist
  • contribute long-term solutions to issues
  • foster the development of skills and capacity
  • demonstrate the ability to make effective use of the funds
  • provide promotional opportunities
  • demonstrate a sustainable future for the project beyond the support of the Fund

The Funds are not for: 

  • private business seeking finance
  • individuals
  • projects normally wholly funded by local or central government
  • projects that do not directly benefit the defined community

Funding decisions will be made by the Kepler Challenge Organising Committee. This group is made up of community members representating a wide spectrum of interests.

Requests need to be submitted by May in the year of the event. You will be notified of the outcome of your funding request in June. Please note that due to the nature of the Charity Challenge, the amount of money available may alter. $15,000 is the maximum available depending on the funds allocated each year. Unsuccessful requests may be considered for the following year.

To submit a request, please either email info@keplerchallenge.co.nz; or write to Kepler Challenge Organising Committee, PO Box 11, Te Anau. Make sure you give the following information in your request:
name of project, contact details, background of the project, objectives of the project (remember it must meet at least one of the objectives outlined above), how your project meets the Charity Challenge Community Fund selection criteria, progress on your project to date, and any other comments you consider relevant.

You may be contacted for further information.

For further information please contact Steve Norris tel; 03 249 9596 or email info@keplerchallenge.co.nz