Netballers embark on Auckland (half) Marathon journey

May 31, 2017

Netballers embark on Auckland (half) Marathon journey

Team TBags are back at it again taking on the Auckland Half Marathon in support of the Tania Dalton Foundation. Photo: Supplied

First it was domination of the World Masters Games, now, a group of athletes is looking to take on the ASB Auckland Half Marathon in October this year.

The group was originally an over-40 netball side competing at the World Masters Games. Members included the late Silver Fern Tania Dalton who died from an aneurysm in March.

In honour of her memory the team named themselves the TBags and went on to champion the competitive 40+ grade of the Masters Games in Auckland last month.

On the sidelines, the team also raised $15,000 for the Tania Dalton Foundation which was set up by the late netballer’s family to help girls be their best, through sport.

The amount was raised through bucket collections over the 10 days of the games, as well as donations from other sporting teams and match fee donations from tournament umpires. Barfoot & Thompson also pledged to match all contributions dollar for dollar.

The TBags were thrilled with how much they raised from the World Masters Games, Team TBags member Lauren Arndt told Te Waha Nui.

“I got the strong feeling that my goal of $2000 would be smashed when the buckets added up to $1200 at the end of day two. It felt incredible and I was very proud, it was also super motivating,” said Mrs Arndt.

Not one to rest on their laurels, the group began to look for more challenges.

Mrs Arndt said via Facebook the idea to run in the Auckland Marathon was informally proposed at the end of the competition in April.

“But I noticed someone had created the event so I jumped on board and helped promote it.

“The organiser [Briar Reidy] and I are going to get together soon to brainstorm re: singlets etc, as I have a printer set up with our heart logo.”

Bernice Mene, a Tania Dalton Foundation (TDF) trustee who played with Dalton in both the Southern Sting and Silver Ferns, said via email that “we really had no idea how much money we would raise in the first few months of starting up but it was also a testimony to Tania and the reach she had in her life”.

Despite the TBags’ achievements so far, the foundation hasn’t worked out how they will spend the funds raised.

“We are still in the early stages of refining our criteria and mandate for TDF but we do know our purpose is to emulate Tania’s essence and aim to assist young women in sport who need support be it financial or through networking or mentoring,” Ms Mene said.

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