Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) is getting behind Gumboot Friday tomorrow (Friday November 3). 

Gumboot Friday is an initiative by the I Am Hope Foundation which raises money for counselling services for young people under 25 in New Zealand.

It was founded by mental health advocate Mike King in response to the “broken system” and Mike said demand for its counselling sessions have increased by 500 percent over two years.

“Sadly this crucial lifeline is not funded by central government,” he said.

Mental health advocate Mike King said demand for counselling services provided by Gumboot Friday and parent organisation I Am Hope has increased dramatically in the last two years. PHOTO: Supplied

Tomorrow’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ event is the leading annual fundraiser for the counselling service, with community-led events taking place across the country. 

MAC’s wellbeing committee, a group of ten students supported by teachers Emma Smith and Gemma Thomspon, has organised two events to support Gumboot Friday.

The committee is behind other initiatives like fundraisers and celebrations for Valentines Day, Pink Shirt Day, and Random Acts of Kindness.

A mufti day and lunchtime gumboot throwing competition at MAC, organised by the wellbeing committee, will raise money for the initiative. PHOTO: MAC

It has arranged a mufti day and all funds raised will go back to the counselling service, MAC communications and marketing manager Monique Mayze said. 

A gumboot throwing competition at lunchtime will also raise money for the service. 

Through Gumboot Friday, I am Hope currently provides up to 3,600 counselling services a month, at a cost of more than half a million dollars.

The committee, which aims to create a sense of belonging for students. PHOTO: MAC

Support Gumboot Friday by showing solidarity and wearing your gumboots today, spreading the word, supporting an event or making a donation. 

Find more information about the initiative, including ways to donate and information on how to access the service, here.

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