Mawera Karetai – Whakatāne High School mountain biking team manager.

If you know me or my 14-year-old son, Jack, you will know that most weekends we are either fundraising for, or participating in, some kind of cool kid-focussed activity.

It might be a sausage sizzle, or cooking a dinner we raffled, or driving a courtesy van for an event, or riding our mountain bikes somewhere fun.

There is always something we can do to raise funds and build awareness, and generally, that is what we do in our spare time.

here are a bunch of reasons why we do this, but the main one is this: if we don’t fundraise, then Jack can’t participate – and it really is as simple as that.

I know that we are not the only family who has that to think about, so when we fundraise, it is for the whole team, so no one feels that worry in the back of their mind about whether they can afford for their kid to take up opportunities to live their best life. Participation matters!

Participation in events and activities is crucial for children's social development.

It allows them to form friendships, develop social skills, and feel a sense of belonging within their peer groups.

By supporting fundraising efforts, we ensure that all children, regardless of their financial circumstances, can be included and feel part of their community. When we support children's fundraising efforts, we empower them to take an active role in their own lives. For many children who face financial barriers, fundraising provides a pathway to participate in events and activities that would otherwise be out of reach.

What we do as children, shapes us for our adult lives. Children who engage in fundraising at a young age are more likely to continue these philanthropic behaviours into adulthood.

By supporting their efforts now, we are nurturing a generation of future leaders who understand the value of community involvement and social responsibility.

We are also enabling our kids with an understanding of the true cost of activities and by fundraising to cover these costs, they are more invested in making the most of the opportunity. If we work for it, we appreciate it more.

Every time you buy a sausage at a sausage sizzle, supporting children's fundraising efforts, you are making an investment in their future.

You are providing children with valuable life experiences, fostering important skills and values, and ensuring that all children can participate fully in the activities that shape their growth and development.

By rallying behind these young fundraisers, we create a more inclusive, compassionate, and engaged society for all.

In the many activities Jack participates in, I get to observe the way our children behave towards their teammates, and others they engage with along the way.

There is something wonderful I have observed time and time again from the young people from this community – they won’t walk past someone who needs help.

Recently, our Whakatāne High School Mountain Bike team volunteered at the Intermediate Champs at Onepū. I lost count of the number of times I saw one of our boys riding alongside a sometimes bruised and bleeding participant who had come off their bike.

One wee girl came up to me, with a big smile (and a fat lip), pointing to one of our boys and told me how the big boy saved her and made her pain stop hurting. I asked him later how he did that.

He told me he sat with her and told her funny stories about all his crashes until she started laughing.

I heard the way the boys encouraged the younger kids – cheering them on and making them feel like they were the champions of the day.

I saw them fixing bikes, and giving out high fives, and always being positive. The same thing happened at the North Island Champs – our kids helping their competitors.

So many adults come up to me to complement our kids– their sportsmanship, their humble approach, and their genuine willingness to help.

At the Aquabots Nationals in Christchurch last year, our kids spent all their spare time helping other teams get their bots back in the water, and then celebrating their wins.

At EPRO8, the same thing – helping the winning teams at the end to break down and pack up their work.  I have so many examples, and not enough word space to tell all the stories I have.

I know it is more than just the fundraising that has instilled these values in our kids, but we should never underestimate the power of the experience and skills they gain from it.

Every time you buy a sausage, or support an event, you become part of this story – and we appreciate you. Thank you for all you do, and for your contribution to our kids getting to do the things they love to do.