Iconic Pork Pie Charity Run Set to Arrive in Invercargill

Excitement is building in Invercargill as the iconic Pork Pie Charity Run is set to arrive on Wednesday, April 5th. Participants will be driving down the main road from the cemetery around the Troopers memorial roundabout and back to the Ascot Park Hotel, with organisers aiming for a 4pm arrival to minimise traffic disruptions.

The Pork Pie Charity Run started on March 31st, with 50 teams and 100 participants driving a 2500km route loosely based on the famous New Zealand movie. Although the original start was Kaitaia, the logistics of accommodation meant that the start was moved to Paihia. Stops at iconic locations in the movie such as National Park, Horopito, and Harihari were scheduled.

The Pork Pie Charity Run was first organized by a trio of friends with a passion for Minis in 2009. Their motto, “Have fun and raise some funds for charity,” still guides the event today.

The run has raised over $1.05 million for KidsCan since 2015, and KidsCan will again be the official charity for this year’s event. The organizers are thrilled to have raised $252K so far this year, with more expected to come.

Kelly from What’s On Invers will be traveling in the Mini convoy in her Mini, following the route of the Pork Pie movie and passing by the Troopers Memorial Roundabout. The event has seen about 40% new participants, with the rest being made up of those who have participated in the past.

Places for the event are highly sought after, with registration oversubscribed within the first 8-10 minutes of going live.

The Pork Pie Charity Run has raised significant funds for charities such as Starship and the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation in the past. The organizers hope that this year’s event will continue to raise funds for KidsCan while providing participants with an unforgettable adventure.

What’s On Invers will as previous years stream the Mini convoy going around Troopers memorial live on our Facebook page.