An 18-year-old Aucklander who says he was “never much of a runner” has pushed his body through 251.95 kilometres and more than 35 hours of running to raise money for I Am Hope and get young men talking about their mental health.
Cooper Smith set himself the mammoth challenge after watching several mates struggle with their mental health, alongside his own experiences which he has largely kept private.
Starting at 6am on Tuesday morning, Smith kept moving until around 7.30pm Thursday, completing 251.95km with 35 hours and 14 minutes of running time at an average pace of 8:23 per kilometre.
So far, the effort has raised $3,766 for I Am Hope, with donations remaining open until around mid-October.
“I’ve had quite a few mates who have been through mental health struggles, and I’ve also been through a lot myself. I haven’t really spoken publicly about my own experiences much, but it definitely played a part in why this meant so much to me,” Smith says.
“I wanted to do something that would genuinely get people’s attention and create more conversation around men’s mental health.”
The 250km target was deliberately huge. Smith wanted a challenge difficult enough to make people stop and ask why he was doing it.
Until recently, however, running had never been a major part of his life.
In the months leading up to the challenge, Smith was running around a half marathon a day to prepare his body, while battling severe shin splints and significant pain in his right knee.
During the challenge itself, the pain in the soles of his feet became almost unbearable.
“There were times I was literally crying while still trying to keep moving. The mental side was massive as well. Knowing how much further I still had to go and trying not to think too far ahead became a challenge in itself,” Smith says.
What kept him going was the stream of friends, family and eventually complete strangers who turned up to walk or run beside him.
On day two, people Smith had never met began arriving after seeing his challenge on social media.
“Some of them actually came out and ran alongside me. Seeing complete strangers care enough about what I was doing to come down and support me gave me a massive boost.”
But it was the final two laps on Thursday night that Smith says he will remember for the rest of his life.
“The lights around the course were all on and everyone who had come down was walking the final two laps with me. After everything that had happened over those few days, having everyone there beside me for the finish was honestly such a cool and emotional moment. I’ll never forget it.”
I Am Hope founder Mike King says there is extraordinarily powerful about an 18-year-old choosing to put himself through such an extreme challenge because he wants other young men to talk.
“Cooper is 18. He’s seen mates struggle, he’s had his own stuff going on, and instead of keeping his head down he’s done something that’s got people talking. I am absolutely floored,” King says.
“We spend a lot of time telling young men they need to speak up, but what Cooper has done is create the conversation himself. People who don’t even know him started turning up and running beside him. We know people desperately want to be part of the solution.”
King says Smith’s fundraiser also comes at an important time, with Gumboot Friday returning on 6 November.
“Since 2019, Gumboot Friday has funded more than 170,000 free counselling sessions for young New Zealanders. No referral, no cost, and they choose who they want to talk to.
“We can only keep doing this with New Zealand behind us. Cooper has absolutely smashed himself for more than 250 kilometres to back other young people. The least the rest of us can do is get behind him.”
Smith says his body currently feels “completely ruined”, but the response has made every painful kilometre worthwhile.
And 251.95km may not be the end.
“I definitely want to do something again in the future. I’m not exactly sure what that will be yet, but after doing this, I know that next time I want to go bigger.”
Smith’s Givealittle page will remain open until approximately mid-October.
Support Cooper’s fundraiser: https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/250km-for-mens-mental-health
GUMBOOT FRIDAY IS NOVEMBER 6
Gumboot Friday gives any young New Zealander aged between 5 & 25 free counselling. If they need help, they can get it. When they need it, before it’s too late. With more than 170,000 counselling sessions since 2019, the good is getting done.
Government support helps pay for the counselling. Community support helps keep Gumboot Friday running, so more kids know where to go when they need help.
On Friday 6 November 2026, we’re giving Gumboot Friday a shot in the arm in the hope it will become New Zealand’s Mental Health Day, when Kiwis will gumboot Up and raise funds for young people to access help when they need it.
For more info visit www.gumbootfriday.org.nz
If you or someone you know is 25 or under and needs someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.org.nz to book a free counsellor today — no referral needed.
