Telecom to sponsor Creche proving its worth Ruapehu's Mts to Sea multi-sports

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 548, 9 August 1994, Page 12 (Supplement)

Telecom to sponsor Creche proving its worth

Ruapehu's Mts to Sea multi-sports

Telecom Mobile has entered the physically challenging world of multisport endurance by becoming the main sponsor of the annual Mountains to • Seaevent. The 300km race will have entered its sixth year when events officially get underway at the starting point of Mt Ruapehu on 22 October. Throughout the three day race, competitors will run, cycle and kay ak over some of

the North Island' s toughest country until they reach the finish point at Castlecliff in Wanganui. Race organisers say that this year's event has already attracted many prominent athletes. Listed among those are NZ Endeavour skipper Grant Dalton, and women' s individual athletes Anne Woodley and Sarah Graham. International teams from as far afield as North America and Japan will also be there.

Support for the Whakapapa Creche has been so overwhelming that staff are pleading with parents to book well ahead to avoid disappointment. With capacity numbers every weekend and bookings right up until the end of October, creche supervisor Libby Avery said additional staff have been employed to cope with the demand. Libby and Melissa Parfitt, another fullyqualified staff member, are on hand each weekend along with three other staff members to ensure stimulating, safe, well-supervised play for their charges. Parents enrolling their children at the Whakapapa Creche needn't worry that their kids are missing out on all the fun. As was the case with the recent Primo Winterfest celebrations, the creche became a major part of the festivities, with clowns calling in and the children taking part in a wide range of activities.

The recent Canada Day at Whakapapa was celebrated accordingly, with children fashioning maple leaves for a wall frieze.