Hey, my name is Tamahau. I’m ten and I’m from Waikino. I love sport, especially rugby, skiing and running. Last year I was diagnosed with a severe medical condition that, among other things, affects my vision. Finding out I’m disabled was a huge shock for me and my family, especially when the specialist said my days of playing rugby are numbered.
He suggested I find a new sport. That’s when I decided to give long distance running a go. The problem is, when I move everything goes blurry and spins. Sometimes it makes me feel really sick. So I look at the ground most of the time when I run around. This makes running in races tricky because sometimes I trip people, they trip me or I fall over things.
We saw a post on Facebook about Te Huia running with a guide from Achilles International NZ, so Mum contacted them. They help disabled people compete in running events all over NZ and the world.
Having a running guide at events means I can run like everyone else instead of worrying about falling down a bank, tripping others or getting lost.
Since I joined them in September, I’ve run in eleven events and placed in the top three in my age group for ten of them. My favourites were coming 1st place in the under-13s Kinloch off-road 5 km challenge, 1st in the under-12s Trek the Forest 6 km race in Rotorua and 3rd in the under-10s 5 km for the Auckland Marathon.
The best thing about distance running is the celebrations afterwards. Everyone is so happy and excited about finishing and there is always music, free food and drinks.
Since I started running we have travelled all over New Zealand and met amazing people. In November, my Mum and I drove from Waikino to Queenstown so I could run in the Queenstown Marathon. I raised 2k for the trip by selling stuff on Facebook Marketplace, from donations by people in Waihi and from my two paper runs. My Mum and I had never been to the South Island before and we spent two weeks driving around, camping and seeing amazing things. It was a huge adventure.
Thank you to Achilles International NZ, Tauranga, Run Waihi, Toyworld Waihi and Paper Plus for helping me run faster and better. This year I’m aiming to do 20 running events around New Zealand – and one day I hope to run the New York Marathon and represent New Zealand at the Paralympics. If you see me out running in my bright yellow Achilles t-shirt, come and say hi.
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