A New Zealand social justice advocate has raised nearly $2000 to help struggling Kiwi youth with the promise of running the 32-kilometre loop around Rarotonga.

Activist, public speaker, and former Muay Thai champion Richie Hardcore invites motorists to give him a honk as he jogs the length of Rarotonga’s main road on Thursday, marking his first fundraiser for a charity he founded to break intergenerational cycles of violence and addiction.

“It’s also a beautiful way to see a new place,” Hardcore, 43, said.

Hardcore’s charitable trust, Rise Above, works with people who have been through the justice system, who have not completed mainstream education, or who have faced drug and alcohol addiction.

“We have a lot of youth who never went back to school after Covid, and were getting into trouble.

“A lot of our people have mental health issues or substance abuse issues. All of them have faced domestic violence.”

Operating out of City Lee Gar, a Muay Thai boxing gym in Auckland, Hardcore had been utilising exercise to help youth develop self-respect, self-discipline, and self-control since the charity “came to life” about a year ago.

“If you give young people something to channel themselves into, they really thrive.”

The charity also provided peer support and education on topics such as mental health, concepts of masculinity, domestic and sexual violence, and drug and alcohol issues.

Hardcore believed the New Zealand Government should fund gym programmes to aid the recovery and rehabilitation of people who had “gone down the wrong path”.

“It really boggles my mind that I have to run around Rarotonga to expand that work,” he said.

“The Government is restricted in their methods. Prison doesn’t stop offending – it’s a punishment, but it’s not preventative.”

The money raised through the Rarotonga run, which reached $1933 ahead of the event, would go towards employing coaches and buying new equipment for Rise Above, Hardcore said.

“People have been very generous,” he said.

“Our goal is to find our own building, our own headquarters. We want a space for lectures, and another one where people can train.”

Hardcore had just four weeks to prepare for the run after partner Claire Robbie surprised him with tickets to Rarotonga for Christmas, suggesting he tackle the 32km loop for a fundraiser while he was here.

The couple landed on Rarotonga for a week-long holiday with sons Jack Sniewski, 9, and Rafael Robbie, 19 months, on Monday.

While his partner had been in Rarotonga to host a meditation retreat in June last year, Hardcore had never been to the sub-tropical destination.

“We almost never go on holiday, so it’s nice to come to a place where we can tune out,” he said.

“It’s just a really lovely pace of life here, I’m really grateful to be here.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve done a long-distance run. I’m not planning on setting any records.”

Riddled with historic injuries from his career as a Muay Thai fighter, the last lengthy run Hardcore had completed was a marathon in Hawke’s Bay in 2018.

The run will kick off from Hardcore’s accommodation in Matavera at about 7am, in the direction of Avarua.