Our Community

The local community is fiercely proud of the FreshChoice Kepler Challenge. Year after year the whole community gets behind Te Anau’s biggest event to create an amazing atmosphere not just on the course but throughout the town.

Under the banner of the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run Trust, a dedicated group of individuals make up the Organising Committee. Throughout the year, they sort out the logistics for the Kepler Challenge.

Closer to event weekend, teams of volunteers, many returning year after year, contribute thousands of hours of their time to ensure the Kepler Challenge and Luxmore Grunt run smoothly.

The Kepler Challenge is unique in that it is an entirely community-run event and part of its ethos is giving back to the community that makes the event so special for the runners. Each year runners can apply to run the Charity Challenge. With an entry fee of $1000, up to 20 successful applicants are guaranteed a spot in the Kepler Challenge with all of the money going to a worthy group in the community. In addition, any surpluses generated from the event are invested back into the community.

For details of projects funded by the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run Trust and how groups can apply for funds please click here.