Let's make it 80,000 next year
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Despite record numbers at Sunday's Ports of Auckland Round the Bays, organisers were a little disappointed.
Fairfax Media organises the popular event through The Sunday Star-Times and its Suburban Newspapers titles, including the Nor-west News, and spokesman David Kemeys said numbers were well up on last year.
"We had around 70,000 last year but blew that away with something around 77,000, but that left us strangely disappointed and wondering what it would be like to crack the 80,000 barrier.
"With the continued support of great sponsors like Ports of Auckland, who knows, maybe we can do that in 2011?"
Prime Minister John Key was again on hand to start the event, his first official outing on a day that would also include a visit to the Kumeu show in his home electorate. He told well-wishers "maybe next year", when the asked where his running shorts were.
Mr Key also made an unscheduled visit to Madills Farm to meet finishers of the event and visit the Ports of Auckland tent.
"This really is a magnificent event," he said.
"It's wonderful to see what is really `Auckland on display'.
"It's the city at its finest and it is just incredible how many people this attracts," he said.
Mr Key said the health benefits in terms of people preparing and exercising could not be measured.
The 8.4-kilometre course follows the Waitemata Harbour from outside the Ports of Auckland in Quay St to Vellenoweth Green in St Heliers.
This year, funds raised at the annual event will be used to support the Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust, Ronald McDonald House and Fairfax First Books.
The Waitemata trust does outstanding work in removing litter form the harbour and Gulf islands, and also promotes clean and rubbish-free waterways.
Ronald McDonald House is planning a major expansion because the demand on its services is continuing to grow.
Fairfax First Books is committed to improving the reading levels of under-fives in disadvantaged communities, and promoting reading in families.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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