The Mount Everest Challenge is back for 2023.

The mission of the charity fundraiser is simple – walk, run or crawl up Mauao 38 times in 50 days; which is the equivalent to climbing Mount Everest, all while raising much needed funds for a local charity. Grab a team or do it as an individual. Can we reach $100,000?

Tauranga's 95.8 The Breeze Promotion Manager Kelsey Harrap is excited to announce this year's chosen charity is Live for More.

Live for More is a Tauranga-based charitable trust that uses surf therapy to reach young people to help them find freedom from their troubled pasts and be inspired to live positive and fulfilling lives. Through their programmes, they transform troubled lives – one wave at a time.

The young people often have had very difficult lives and the majority have experienced a significant amount of trauma. Tai Wātea meaning "Waves of Freedom" gives them the opportunity to re-engage with positive people and healthy activities, allowing them to see their potential and giving their lives meaning and purpose.

Funding is needed so that Live for More can continue to provide the clinical support and counselling to the people they are helping, transforming them into positive productive members of our community.

The challenge campaign, previously run by More FM, will kick off on February 12 and end on April 2.

'Last year we raised just over $84,000 for Good Neighbour so it really is an awesome feel-good challenge,” says Kelsey, who had set herself a goal of $50,000 for 2022.

Live for More Operations Manager Megan Warn and Tauranga's 95.8 The Breeze Promotion Manager Kelsey Harrap. Photo: John Borren.

Over the past eight years, The Mount Everest Challenge has raised $547,097 for local charities. In 2015, $95,000 was raised for surf clubs, while in 2016, Homes of Hope was the chosen charity with $45,000 raised.

The list goes on: 2017 - Women's Refuge, $71,000; 2018 - Waipuna Hospice, $120,000; 2019 - Riding for the Disabled, $63,000; 2020 - Rescue Helicopter, $32,800; 2021 - St Johns, $36,200 and last year Good Neighbour received $84,097.

Tauranga's 95.8 The Breeze wants to continue to grow this to support various charities in the Bay of Plenty, but they can only do it if people seize hold of this challenge, whether it's participating in climbing or donating to those who are.

Participants can sign up as an individual or as a team on the Give a Little Page and join the Mount Everest Challenge Facebook Page throughout the challenge to stay up to date and for awesome giveaways thanks to local businesses.