The Due Drop Hope Challenge 2023 team have made the decision to postpone their journey until April 2023.

Given the National State of Emergency and the dire situation so many of you are facing it is the only decision we could have made, says I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday founder Mike King.

'Right now the focus is on everyone keeping safe," says Mike.

'So many of you live in the areas we were due to visit and right now the priority and focus is on you all being safe, on moving forward and rebuilding in the coming weeks.”

The Due Drop Hope Challenge, sponsored by Due Drop Foundation, is a 16-day relay event to swim/bike/run the length of the North Island, from Cape Reinga to the Beehive in Wellington, to raise awareness about the struggles young people face accessing counselling, despite a $1.5 billion investment by the current government.

'The wait times for our kids to see a mental health professional are getting longer and it seems we are becoming more reliant on medication to fill the void. This challenge is the ideal opportunity to promote our free counselling service Gumboot Friday and inform Kiwis that there is an alternative to these excruciatingly long wait times and medication,” says Mike.

A group of passionate Kiwis, including some of New Zealand's favourite former athletes, are taking part in the gruelling physical and mental challenge to raise awareness and money for youth mental health in New Zealand.

It will be run, cycled and swam by All Black Hall of Famer, Ian Jones MNZM, better known as the "kamo kid", and former World Triathlon champion, Commonwealth Games Triathlon champion and Commonwealth Games swimmer Rick Wells.

The event will conclude with a hīkoi to Parliament led by Mike, where he will meet with a government representative to convey the group's concerns regarding the critical need for leadership and decisive action on improving youth mental health in New Zealand.

The challenge was due to start on Tuesday February 14, but has now been postponed until April due to Cyclone Gabrielle.

'Our challenge we were undertaking pales in significance to the challenges you are all facing right now,” says Mike in a message to supporters.

'We know that you will have major stress and hardship placed on your families from this weather event and we want to emphasize that if your children are experiencing ongoing anxiety and fears going forward they can get free help through www.gumbootfriday.org.nz '

Mike says when the tour kicks off in early April the team will come through towns along the way, where they would love to see as many of their supporters as possible.

'Until then we will keep having the conversations that need to be had and the team are determined to complete their mission,” says Mike.

'To all of our amazing day sponsors we appreciate your understanding and we are committed to doing you all proud in a few months' time.

'To our accommodation providers we know for some of you, unaffected by this weather, this is an inconvenience and we are sincerely sorry! You have been integral in the success of this challenge providing us a comfortable place at the end of long days,” says Mike.

'We appreciate this is going to disrupt you and we apologize but we see no other alternative. We will be in touch over the coming days to reschedule our dates with you.

'To all our Foodstuffs whānau, restaurants and venues who were due to host us at the end of every day we thank you for your enthusiasm and support and hope that you are all keeping safe. We look forward to rescheduling with you all too and appreciate your understanding.”

Mike affirms the team will not give up on the challenge despite the adverse weather this week.

'We will match the fortitude you are all showing right now and look forward to meeting you in brighter days ahead,” says Mike.

To learn more about the Due Drop Hope Challenge click here