Colin Penno, Sofia Sosa, Regan Baxter and Erin Carney represented Barenbrug Agriseeds in the 2019 “Rescue Crew Challenge”. The objective of this challenge was to raise money and awareness for the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Helicopter.
This is a charity that provides life-saving Air Rescue and Air Ambulance services to the 600,000 people across the vast and isolated Canterbury and West Coast region of New Zealand. With the 24hr, 365 day a year service requiring 7 million New Zealand dollars a year to operate, the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust is a key community asset that requires fundraising to keep running and available to everyday New Zealanders.
Barenbrug Agriseeds has been associated with the Trust for a number of years. However, this is the first time they have included a team in the “Rescue Crew Challenge”. The day involved a two-part challenge series. The first consisted of 10 mental and physical tasks, with teamwork being a critical component in the time limited race against an opposing team. The second part was an all-out race to innovate, build, work together and race to complete a challenge involving all the 19 teams. The aim of these tasks was to reflect the unique and diverse challenges that the rescue crews encounter on every day rescue missions.
A total of over $100,000 was raised by the 19 teams involved in this year’s event.
