Running for Teina

A Counties Manukau constable is looking for support as she prepares to run the New York Marathon on behalf of an injured wingmate and friend.

Constable Naomi McRae, of Pukekohe, is running in honour of Teina Boyd, a fellow member of Wing 288, who was left tetraplegic after an accident last year.

Naomi - pictured on the left with Teina - has run six previous marathons. She has also completed 60km and 100km ultra marathons – but New York will be the first time she has run for somebody else.

Her chosen charity is The Catwalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust, which supports research into repair of damaged spinal cords.

The marathon is on 1 November and Naomi is appealing for help raising at least $5000 for the trust. “I'll do all the running - but I really need your help to make a difference to people like Teina,” she says.

The trust was established by former top New Zealand equestrian Catriona Williams, who suffered life changing injuries in an accident. She has since completed the New York Marathon on a hand-cycle.  

Naomi – who also rides in equestrian competitions - says Teina’s injury and the prevalence of spinal injury in horse-riding made the trust an ideal cause for her to support.

“I didn’t need much convincing to do this,” she says. “So far the trust has raised more than $5 million to help find a cure for spinal cord injury - and all the money I raise through the marathon goes directly to the trust.”

You can find Naomi’s fund-raising page at www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/NaomiMcRae01/