BLUES MOVING FOR THEIR MATES IN CONSTRUCTION
The Blues and MATES in Construction are delighted to announce they have teamed up for MATES Long Lap - a month-long fundraiser for suicide prevention.
Taking place throughout April, the Blues join hundreds of Kiwis moving for their MATES. The campaign calls on New Zealand to come together, get active and raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health in the construction industry and across the nation.
MATES in Construction had an ambitious goal of covering the length of New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail (3000km) five times to acknowledge the construction industry loses a worker to suicide every five days.
This goal is more than a number; it is a powerful reminder of why nearly 500 people are Moving for their Mates - to save lives and ignite hope. They’ve since gone past nine laps and are on their way to 12.
Why 12? The issue of suicide goes beyond the construction industry. It affects us all and last year, New Zealand lost, on average, 12 people to suicide every week.
Blues CEO Andrew Hore knows there is a great connection between rugby and construction.
“We’ve joined the Long Lap to honour our friends, whānau and fans who work in construction,” he said.
“Here at the Blues, Moving for our Mates is exactly what we do, week in, week out, through the Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Aupiki seasons.
“We move for the mate beside us, those who have come before us and those who lift us when we need a boost.”
The Blues will be contributing the kilometres they have covered across their seven Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Aupiki games in April.
Together, the Blues and MATES in Construction know that physical activity benefits our mental health and that we can all take steps to improve our well-being.
Slade McFarland, former Blues representative, and MATES Hauora and Engagement Manager is delighted to see the Blues share the Long Lap message.
“It’s a massive step forward having the Blues join us for the Long Lap and helping us raise awareness that mental well-being can affect anyone.”
The moment your health becomes one of your stressors, everything else takes a back seat.”
"The Long Lap is about taking steps to take care of your body, protecting your mind and not taking your well-being for granted.
More information: www.mateslonglapnz.net.nz
Blues Fundraising page: https://www.mateslonglapnz.net.nz/fundraisers/theblues
About MATES in Construction New Zealand: MATES in Construction is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to build and strengthen workplace communities across the construction industry, encouraging positive well-being for workers and their families. MATES in Construction New Zealand was established in 2019 with one simple but ambitious aim: to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide in the construction industry. It does this in partnership with the industry, providing suicide prevention training, direct support services, and workforce capacity building to strengthen peer support and improve mental health outcomes.