Every day around Aotearoa - in Ōtautahi, Tāmaki Makaurau, Whangārei, Taranaki, and Te Tai Poutini - there are groups of Speed Freaks out chasing a healthier and more connected life, guided by our amazing 130 volunteers and kaimahi. Ngā mihi nui to all our donors and partners who continue to support our kaupapa. With your continued help, we hope to be able to keep spreading the Speed Freaks Magic further.

CEO Message

It has been a fantastic start to 2026, with new groups and new opportunities to share the work we do - Speed Freaks magic - with others. We have welcomed new volunteers, coaches and peers, as well as staff, including our two development managers in the North and South islands.

We also had the opportunity to share that Speed Freaks magic with Minister of Mental Health and Associate Minister of Health Matt Doocey at the Richmond Cottage in late February. We enjoyed showing him the growth and development of the Speed Freaks as we head towards our fifth birthday. Thank you also to the group of Speed Freaks who shared their personal stories and the impact of joining our kaupapa.

I would also like to acknowledge our champions and funders Te Whatu Ora and philanthropic trusts that have supported our work, including

J R McKenzie and the Rātā Foundation who have enabled us to push ahead.

We are also excited to have a second position come on board from On Running, who have supported expanding experiences for our runners and their families. Our pilot position will be mirrored in Tāmaki Makaurau later in the year. There is lots to look forward to and put in the diary for 2026.

There have been some amazing achievements and inspirational stories and if you stay tuned to our social media, you will see a number of our community share their journeys and hopefully inspire others to lace up and get moving for recovery.

Ngā mihi,

Anna Christophorou

Growth by the numbers

Volunteer Award

We are so proud to announce that our Speed Freaks Volunteer coaches and peers have been selected to receive one of seven Minister of Health Volunteer Awards, recognising their contribution to our kaupapa. We could not do what we do without all the time, commitment and care donated by our volunteers, and we are so pleased that the Ministry sees that too. Two volunteer representatives will be in Parliament in April to receive the award on behalf of all 130 of our volunteers.

App-y Days

Building of the Speed Freaks app - to streamline all our communications between whai ora, volunteer coaches, and staff - has begun and we are excited to see it coming together. The talented team at Gherkin Media have been working hard to bring this to life, and we are so grateful. Watch this space!

parkrun milestone

A huge congratulations to Simone for her 150th parkrun milestone being reached in February at Barry Curtis Park. What an achievement! It coincided with us sharing her story in an Upstream Film on social media, and we were happy to see her accomplishment shared by parkrun too. You are awesome Simone, and we are so grateful to have you in our Speed Freaks whānau.

New Speed Freaks waka

Speed Freaks now has its very first fleet van, based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. This is the first vehicle to be added to the whānau, and we are excited to be able to commute runners, and gear, without having to rely on outside agencies.

The T-shirt that makes connections

On the hunt for a running top one day in about October, George popped into SaveMart Onehunga and grabbed a t-shirt that fit him perfectly. It was a nice blue, and he thought the words on it were catchy, George says. "Speed Freaks, that's a cool name," he thought.

After work one day, he went on a run with his mate along Westhaven waterfront, a run he had done once before and wanted to share with him. Pretty soon they spotted a group of runners wearing the same t-shirt, some of whom proceeded to call out, "Speed Freaks!"

"I was like, what's going on, that's the same t-shirt! I jog up wondering, 'who are the Speed Freaks'? Is this a club? How big is this club? Do they know I'm an imposter?"

They were warming up in a circle, something he now knows is part of the routine, and he got talking to programme coordinator Eden, who explained the kaupapa.

Soon after, he got in touch about volunteering as a coach. "It was pretty serendipitous running past these guys wearing the shirt."

After about a month of coaching, he is loving the group aspect of running with Speed Freaks. "Running with people has been a big boost to making the sport of running more than just the cardio. It's getting out with other people."

It was a "funny way to come across" Speed Freaks, but he now understood the work needed to earn the shirt.

"I worked out the t-shirt has a lot of mana to it."

Well, we are glad to have you on board, George. Thanks for picking up that t-shirt that day!

Regional roundup

Ōtautahi

It has been a busy 2026 so far, and despite the "summer" weather, Christchurch Speed Freaks have been embracing new adventures, new staff, whai ora and volunteers, and celebrating whānau. The Crusaders Long Run was a great day out, connecting with other runners and organisations, and with many of our runners setting personal lap goals. Some records may have been interrupted by a sudden halt in a thunder and lightening storm, but we are so proud of the number of laps our team contributed to fundraising for the Child Cancer Foundation. The sun shone for the whānau day at Ashley Gorge, and parents and children had a lot of fun in the river. We said "seeya" but not goodbye to our lovely programme coordinator Jess, but also welcomed our newest peer support Shannon, and our South Island development manager Libby. Ka mau te wehi - fantastic!

Tāmaki Makaurau

We have celebrated milestones, new staff, new members and new partnerships so far in 2026. After 17 months as a Speed Freak, Aisea is now in a peer support role. Jolie Leach is also the new North Island development manager, and programme coordinator Eden has left the role, but we will continue seeing him running with Speed Freaks. The Coastal Run and the Round the Bays both offered heaps of fun for our Speed Freaks, who joined thousands of others getting out and moving in their weekends. The Tāmaki Speed Freaks have also teamed up with the Houndy Helpers to run a Greyt Speed Freaks Noodle Relay in May as a fundraiser for blue t-shirts and to raise awareness about Greyhounds needing new homes. Before signing off, Eden said there are really strong coach numbers in the city, and he has been impressed to see the Westhaven community group with strong wāhine members. It seems fitting to make this acknowledgement with International Womens' Day being celebrated this month!

Te Tai Poutini/West Coast

Our Speed Freaks whānau in the West Coast are going from strength to strength, with more members and more groups/trails being added. A successful community hui was held in Hokitika in February to share with the community and potential members what our kaupapa is all about, which was catered for by the wonderful Hokitika Sandwich Company. Many thanks to them for their support. A new community group has begun in Hokitika, and the coast's first wāhine group has begun in Greymouth. We have also started gauging interest in Westport from those keen to take the volunteer baton up in the town, as we would love to be able to offer our movement as medicine kaupapa there too. We look forward to continuing our growth in the region, and heading out together to all the beautiful trails on offer in the area.

Taranaki

It’s been a great start to the year for our Taranaki running community, with plenty of energy, achievements, and new faces joining the group.

A big congratulations to Greg, who was nominated as Peer Support. Greg has brought fantastic enthusiasm to the role, always ready with a supportive ear when it’s needed and an endless supply of dad jokes to keep everyone smiling. We kicked off the year with the Lake Mangamahoe 10km and 21km Trail Run. This year marked the 10th and final running of the event. It was a super hot day on the trails, but the challenge made the finish line all the more rewarding for everyone who took part. The Nexans Fun Run and Walk Series of six routes also saw Speed Freaks take part, ending with 10 members running at the Eltham event at Lake Rotokare. Runners/walkers went through the beautiful pest-free reserve that is home to beautiful forest and a protected wildlife sanctuary for tīeke (saddleback), pāteke (brown teal), hihi (stitchbird), and kiwi. We're looking forward to the parkrun takeover on March 28. It should be a fun morning giving back to parkrun, which has given so much to us.

Speed Freaks now has two new development managers, one in Te Waipounamu South Island and one in Te Ika a Māui North Island. We are pleased to introduce Libby Galbraith who is based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, and Jolie Leach who is based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Let's get to know them better!

Libby Galbraith - South Island Regional Development Manager

How did you come to know about Speed Freaks?

I first came to know about Speed Freaks in 2018 when I completed my social work placement at Odyssey House under Steph and Anna. I ran my first City2Surf and half marathon with the support of Jamie, Steph and Anna and the massive support of the men at Odyssey. This is where my running journey started and I have not stopped!! 

What are you excited about in your new role?

I am excited to see how speed freaks have grown from sausage sizzles and a small group of Odyssey runners to a nationwide NGO. I am so excited to support Speed Freaks on this journey and to support whai ora on their recovery and movement journey. I am particularly excited about the traction being gained on the coast. 

What do you love about Speed Freaks?

I love the simplicity and the community of Speed Freaks. 

What is the most prominent running memory you have?

My most prominent memory is running up Rāpaki for the first time. This was a huge accomplishment and introduction to hills.  

What is a fun fact about yourself not many/no one would know?

A fun fact about me is that I am highly competitive! 

What are three words you would use to describe yourself?

Positive, enthusiastic, grateful.

What does recovery mean to you?

Recovery to me is finding joy and gratitude in little moments. 

What is the best advice you have ever been given/or have for others on their recovery journey?

Keep showing up each day with small consistent steps! 

Jolie Leach - North Island Regional Development Manager 

How did you come to know about Speed Freaks?

I first came to know Speed Freaks through a group run from my previous service, Merge Community. It’s quite special because stepping into this role now feels like things have come full circle. What started as a connection through that run has come back around in a way I never expected. The idea that recovery could be supported through movement, connection, and community really resonated with me. What stood out was that it wasn’t just about running—it was about belonging, purpose, and people showing up for each other in a really genuine way.

What are you excited about in your new role?

I’m really excited about growing the reach of Speed Freaks and supporting more communities to access recovery through connection and movement. There is something powerful about seeing people who once felt isolated become leaders and role models for others. Being part of strengthening that peer community and helping the programme grow across the country is something I feel incredibly privileged to be part of.

What do you love about Speed Freaks?

What I love most about Speed Freaks is the magic that happens when people come together with honesty and no judgment. It creates a space where people feel safe to be themselves, to laugh, to struggle, and to succeed together. It’s not just about fitness—it’s about hope, connection, and reminding people that they’re not alone.

What is the most prominent running memory you have?

One of my most memorable moments is seeing someone cross the finish line of their first event after never believing they could run at all. Watching the pride and emotion on their face, surrounded by the cheers of the Speed Freaks community, really captures what this programme is about. It’s those moments of transformation and shared celebration that stay with you. Ohhh – then me:  I would have to say it is a close competition between running the “Goat track” up Te Mata Peak and the Hakarimata Summit which includes an ascending 1,349 steps!!! But the view is fantastic.

What is a fun fact about yourself not many/no one would know?

A fun fact about me is that I never imagined I’d be involved in anything related to running. If you had told me years ago that I’d be part of a running community, I would have laughed. I always thought of myself of more of an Equestrian… But here I am—and now I get to see firsthand how powerful it can be for people in recovery.

What are three words you would use to describe yourself?

Resilient, relational, and determined.

What does recovery mean to you?

For me, recovery is about rebuilding a life that feels meaningful and connected. It’s not just about stopping something—it’s about discovering who you are, finding purpose, and surrounding yourself with people who support and believe in you. Recovery is ongoing, and it’s strengthened through community and shared experience.

What is the best advice you have ever been given or have for others on their recovery journey?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard is to focus on progress, not perfection. Recovery isn’t a straight line and it doesn’t have to be. What matters is continuing to show up, being honest with yourself, and staying connected with people who walk alongside you. Small steps, taken consistently, can lead to incredible change.

A huge thanks for all your tautoko - look at how far Speed Freaks has come leading up to its fifth birthday this year! Te mutunga kē mai o te pai - Incredibly awesome!

If anyone knows of people who may make great coaches, we have some vacancies across the motu. Get in touch with our National Volunteer Coordinator Sophie for details at: sophie@speedfreaks.org.nz.

The annual Speed Freaks parkrun headliner is on March 28, when we will be taking over all volunteer roles at parkruns in Hagley Park - Ōtautahi, Cornwall Park - Tāmaki, East End - Taranaki, and Whangārei complete with dress ups and spreading the Speed Freaks magic. Mā te wā - See you there!