The much-anticipated Cook Islands Autism’s biggest fundraising event, Te Kara Run, is making a “colourful” return this year on Friday, November 24 , after a lapse of two years.

Registrations are now open for the 2023 Air New Zealand Te Kara Run, a 3.2-kilometre fun run/walk event where participants are dunked in colour at several stations along the course.

Several hundred people are expected to brave the dry and windy conditions for the popular fun run which raises funds for the educational and social development programmes for children with Autism.

Te Kara Run will start and finish at the Constitution Park (Terevete Park) with a warm up at 4.30pm before the run at 5pm.

Kat Jensen, Autism’s programme manager, said in the last run in 2021, 780 packs were sold.

“We are expecting 800-1000 people to participate this year,” she said.

Te Kara Run is about bringing the community together for a fun active event for the whole family and raising funds to support our programmes, Jensen added.

She explained, that this event is suitable for all abilities and levels of fitness.

“It’s not a race as such, it’s a colourful fun event and less about the distance and time and more about having good old fashion fun and supporting a good cause.

“While our event is all about having fun, we also focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle. It is an event for everyone, for all fitness levels and ages,” Jensen said.

This is Autism Cook Islands’ third Te Kara Run. The organisation is very excited this year to have their very first naming/gold sponsor, Air New Zealand, who will also host the final colour station.

The silver/colour station sponsors are: Vodafone, ANZ Bank, Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI), Bank of the South Pacific (BSP), Stonefish Studios Aitutaki and Maritime Cook Islands.

The bronze sponsors are: Cook Islands Tourism, Vonnia’s, The Lucky Rooster Eatery, Te Marae Ora and Super Brown.

All the colour stations will have coloured powder representing their organisation, for example, ANZ – Blue, BSP – Green, Vodafone – Red and BCI - Yellow

Get your whole family, work crew, youth group and take the opportunity to let off some steam and have a great time together. Don’t forget to register and pay the fee of $30 per person or $25 per person for a group of 10 or more to secure your race pack containing a T-shirt or singlet, sunglasses and a colour pack.

Te Kara Run’s registration booth will be open this Thursday at the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Days from 8am to 3pm. They will be at BCI Bank on Friday from 11am to 2pm, 10am to 2pm at BSP Bank on November 17, and 10am to 2pm at the Shelter across from the Police Station (November 20 to 24).