Run72 isn’t just an event, it’s a kaupapa that brings our community together in so many different ways in the fight for better mental health. Over the years, countless students have shared how it has shaped their university experience, their communities and the way they think about mental health. I caught up with two previous Lads execs, Lucy and Tom, to hear what it has meant to them.

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For Lucy, Run72 has been nothing short of transformative.

“Run72 has honestly been one of the most impactful kaupapa I’ve ever been part of. It’s hard to explain the feeling — sleepless nights, curled up on a couch beside people I barely knew, DnB blasting, and watching hundreds of people looping that track together. All of it to raise money for student counselling and to stand up for mental health.”

Now, training as a psychologist, Lucy says she feels prouder than ever watching this kaupapa grow and our communities fighting for better access to support, so we don’t lose any more of our whānau to suicide.

Run72 changed the way Lucy views mental health…

“Run72 has highlighted just how important and influential it is to take time to connect and show up for one another. While mental health is complex and requires a multifaceted approach, the smallest things often make the biggest difference. For instance, checking in, holding space, getting fresh air, and moving our tinana. These small things are part of what makes us human.”

She reflects on the whakataukī:

He iti te mokoroa, nāna i kati te kahikatea - although numbers or resources may be small, like the mokoroa, it is possible to achieve the impossible.

In 2024, Lucy was struck by a powerful moment when an exec member chalked the words “Who are you running for?” on the pavement.

“Over the next few hours, the entire pavement began to fill with names. People wrote the names of whānau, friends, people we’ve lost to mental health, and even themselves. It made me quite emotional and completely stopped me when I saw it, because although we knew it, it highlighted just how meaningful this kaupapa was to the community.”

When asked to describe Run72 in just one sentence, Lucy didn’t hesitate:

“An empowering 72-hour running event by the community for anyone impacted by mental health challenges.”

And for anyone who feels nervous about getting involved, Lucy’s advice is simple but powerful:

“Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui!” - be strong, be brave, be steadfast.

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For Tom, Run72 is more than running, it’s where he first found a connection with like-minded people.

“Run72 is always such a special time of the year and it was originally how I found an amazing group of people that I could connect with and be open about mental health. The amazing people and stories it attracts is so heartwarming and you feel like you’re a part of something much bigger than yourself.”

Tom says Run72 was one of his first real exposures to men’s mental health conversations.

“It made me realise I wasn’t alone in the way that I felt and that there were so many people out there that cared. It was the first time I realised that MH is a topic which we can openly and freely discuss and was the first step in destigmatising the issue for me!”

Tom reflected on the early years, and the incredible growth the kaupapa has seen since then.

“One memory that really stands out is from the very first year. We were super fresh, and no one really knew what we were doing. In the middle of the night, there was just a small crew taking turns being the only one running. Fast forward a few years, and last year at 3am there were over 100 people running. It felt almost symbolic on the journey Lads has seen over the past five years, and it feels really clear that people are no longer alone in how they feel.”

For Tom, Run72 can be summed up as:

“A festival of activity and open conversations to break the stigma and

build the community.”

And to anyone who may be intimidated or unsure about joining, Tom offers reassurance from years of experience seeing thousand take part:

“Over the years we’ve had thousands of different people come and do a lap. We’ve had running laps, walking laps, biking, skipping, hula hooping and many wheelchair laps. It is one of the most inclusive events you’ll find on campus and it doesn’t matter if you’re a marathoner or need a long rest after a single lap, everyone is so welcome and the community is so excited to have you. You’ve just got to take that leap, come down and see what it’s all about. I promise you, you’ll be so glad you did.”

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Lucy and Tom’s stories remind us that Run72 is so much more than a running event. It’s a space to korero, connect, to honour those we’ve lost and to show up for one another. Every lap you run, whether it’s your first or your hundredth, adds to the energy, the support, and the impact of this kaupapa, and we cannot wait to see you down there.

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Ngā mihi,

The Lads whānau!

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