A local couple are putting pedal to the metal to raise funds for KidsCan in the 2025 Pork Pie Charity Run.

Vaughan and Erin McNabb, along with their trusty 2013 Mini Cooper, head off on their 2,300km length of New Zealand journey next week and are proud to be waving the Wairoa flag.

The Pork Pie Charity Run is a bi-annual fundraising road trip for Mini lovers, based loosely on the route taken by the Blondini Gang in the original Goodbye Pork Pie movie.

The first run in 2009 saw 36 teams travel from Kaitaia to Invercargill over five days. Since then, the event has grown, with participation reaching a 60-car limit and the journey extended to six days. Due to accommodation and logistical constraints, the run now caps at 50 teams, with entries selling out within minutes!

Vaughan and Erin were successful with their entry and have been planning their fundraising journey ever since.

Vaughan has always had a passion for minis and, as a community-minded person, is keen to give back to a good cause.

“We set our fundraising target at $30,000 and have surpassed that. We were sitting in the number one spot on the fundraising leaderboard but have now been overtaken, so we are keen to try and get back up there.”

The couple says the support they have received has been overwhelming. “Wairoa people have dug deep, from sponsorship and business names on the mini to kids raising coins for the cause. Our community is amazing and just has so much heart. We have been humbled by some of the stories behind the donations that local people have made. KidsCan have supported most of our local schools with meals, clothing and shoes so we know that supporting KidsCan will help our community. It has been a lot of fun to be out and about with the mini, visiting schools and promoting awareness.”

The duo will set off on their adventure next week, starting by driving to the top of the North Island, so they can then come all the way back down and drive to Invercargill. The six-day adventure drive will see the McNabbs join the other 49 teams with lots of camaraderie and fun rivalry expected on the journey.

“We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has supported this fundraising trip so far. If you would still like to donate, porkpiecharityrun.org.nz/t/bush-beach-bbq-yroa, click the link to donate to a team and search for BushBeachBBQ ‘Yroa’, or please use the QR code.”

29 March 2025

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