A Word From Ruben Wiki

For me, being fit and active has always been a big part of feeling good. And I reckon that when it comes to getting out and into things there’s no better time to start than when you’re young.

I grew up in Otara and can’t remember a time when I wasn’t active. We lived in a cul-de-sac, which was great for blocking off and setting up a street game. Every night we’d be out til dark with Mum calling us in for dinner. But we’d always be saying: ”Aw, come on, Mum, just one more go.”

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If you are near Papatoetoe next Saturday then it would be great to see you down at the Allan Brewster Recreation Centre for the 20th birthday celebrations.

It’s one of those special days in Manukau that I think are really worth celebrating. Twenty years is a long time. And who knows how many hundreds of thousands, or maybe even millions, of people have used the centre and enjoyed it since then.

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I always get a kick out of seeing someone set a goal and stick to it.

So I really enjoyed the chance I got to rub shoulders with people who had done just that recently by finishing Manukau Leisure’s annual “No More Excuses” eight-week fitness challenge.

Over 120 people signed up for the challenge. And when I joined them in the final workout and graduation sessions you could see how they all had really inspired each other and kept each other going. After all, 50 seconds is a long time when you are doing push-ups!

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Getting fit is for everyone. But this month there is a really special event where the focus is firmly on you girls. And you get a chance to do two of my favourite things at once: get out training as the sun comes up, and support a great cause that brings people in Manukau together. On Sunday, April 18, Valerie Vili (who I am also a huge fan of) is leading a sunrise walk or run for women at the Auckland Botanic Gardens to help raise funds for Hospice South Auckland ...

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Just a few days now to go to Polyfest. And this year it is going to be huge. Six hundred students are competing from 60 schools and nearly 100,000 people are expected to take part. This makes the festival, which starts at the Manukau Sportsbowl on March 17, the biggest Maori and Pacific Islands culture event held anywhere in the world.

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