It’s hard to believe it’s all over, and Jup Brown has DONE IT! He’s actually run the length of New Zealand (and then some!) covering 2930km in 67 days!

These past few days have been a strange time for Jup - realising he’s accomplished his goal, bidding farewell to crew mate Rick, unloading and handing back the beloved Guardian van, re-organising his life.., and unbelievably, he has actually stopped running! (…for now anyway…)

The finish was incredible… thank you to all who managed to make it to the Auckland waterfront to cheer Jup over the line. With around 100 supporters
there, including stroke survivors, sponsors, family and friends it was an emotionally charged event.

Jup set out to raise funds and awareness for the Stroke Foundation. The donation tally is currently sitting around the $16,000 mark, but with a corporate donation still to come, and the text line remaining open until the end of this month, Jup is hopeful of handing over a cheque for around $20,000 to the Stroke Foundation. With a whopping 65 published and broadcast interviews (with a couple more to come this week) and more than 20 school visits up and down the country, Jup has surpassed his own expectations for getting the stroke awareness message out.

Thank you to each and every one of you and your organisations for the immense support you gave to Jup. Without you, he genuinely would not have had such an amazing and successful adventure. Together Team Running New Zealand helped spread the word of the Stroke Foundation and raised valuable funds to help stroke survivors.

A massive thank you to Rick Zwaan - “cameraman/driver extraordinaire” - for the 120%o he put into this mission. Armed with a camera and a first aid kit he selflessly took nine weeks out of his life to help make this adventure happen. He has now hung up his driving hat and is starting the massive task of sifting through tape upon tape of footage in order to put together the documentary of this incredible run. He hopes to have it finished in early 2012, so watch this space!

So, what next for Mr Brown? Well, he is off back to Wanaka for a few days, before heading back to Australia next week to start a new plumbing job in a mining town near Perth (got to pay off the trip somehow!). And in true Jup form, he is already contemplating his next adventure. Having thoroughly enjoyed the kayak leg from Devonport to the Viaduct, Jup says a multi-sport challenge may be the next on the cards…

The Self Storage Association of Australasia (SSAA) Industry Awards pay tribute to high achievers and leaders, promote success stories and motivate others to become high achievers.

The awards have become the peak recognition for those working in the self storage industry and highlight the commitment this industry has made to improving the excellent levels of service offered and the very real successes resulting from hard work and innovation.

Guardian Self Storage Tauranga was the only New Zealand self storage company to be a finalist in this years “Facility of the Year” award.

The SSAA is the industry body representing over 1100 Self Storage facilities throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as a growing number in Asia and the Middle East. Each year, the SSAA receives scores of nominations for both the Facility of the Year Award and Regional Facility of the Year Award, which are then shortlisted by the judging panel.

Finalists are assessed based on their performance and improvements in the areas of new innovations, financial performance, unique approaches to marketing or promotions, a positive team culture and a commitment to customer service.

Joining the Tauranga business at the winner’s podium was sister branch Guardian Manukau, which won the supreme Facility of the Year Award (for which Guardian Frankton, in Hamilton, was also a finalist).
Guardian Self Storage were the only company from New Zealand to make the finals of the two awards, and are the first company in the ceremony’s history to have scooped both top honours.

Guardian CEO Euan Armstrong says “We are abolutely thrilled to see Guardian Tauranga recognised as the best regional facility in all of Australasia. Our Tauranga team work really hard to make Guardian the clear choice for customers. And we’re certainly not going to rest on our laurels now - this award’s only inspired us further. Bring on 2013!”

Guardian provides self storage units along with relocation trailers, trucks and vans for rent across the upper North Island, with a total of five branches in Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton. In the past 18 months, the company has invested significantly in improving the customer experience from end to end - including modernising their fleet of rental vehicles and trailers, bringing on more staff, creating a free truck hire package and more.

Beating out all other self storage facilities across New Zealand and Australia, Guardian Manukau was announced as the Facility of the Year.

The SSAA is the industry body that represents over 1100 Self Storage facilities throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as a growing number also in Asia and the Middle East. Each year, the SSAA receives scores of nominations for the hotly contested Facility of the Year Award, which are then shortlisted by the judging panel.

Joining Guardian Storage Manukau and two other finalists in the running for Facility of the Year was sister branch Guardian Storage Frankton (Hamilton). And to add to the plaudits, Guardian Storage Tauranga won the Regional Facility of the Year Award.
Guardian Self Storage were the only company from New Zealand to make the finals of the two awards, and are the first company in the ceremony’s history to have scooped both top honours.

Guardian CEO Euan Armstrong says “We are beyond thrilled to see Guardian Manukau recognised as the best facility in all of Australasia. Our Manukau team work really hard to make Guardian the clear choice for customers. And we’re certainly not going to rest on our laurels now - this award’s only inspired us further. Bring on 2013!”

Guardian provides self storage units along with relocation trailers, trucks and vans for rent across the upper North Island, with a total of five branches in Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton. In the past 18 months, the company has invested significantly in improving the customer experience from end to end - including modernising their fleet of rental vehicles and trailers, bringing on more staff, creating a free truck hire package and more.

Look out for MORE FM’s Dom Agnew and the Bay of Plenty Steamers mascot, Steamy, with the Guardian Self Storage & Truck Rentals van outside your primary school!

Guardian Self Storage & Truck Rentals, in association with More FM, is giving away a stack of rugby balls for your school.

Check out the van then listen to Vinnie & Kirt for Breakfast for your chance to call them and guess how many balls are in the van. At the end of the contest, the three closest guesses will each win a stack of balls for their school! So look out for our van outside your primary school and listen to Vinnie & Kirt for Breakfast for your chance to call for balls!

Entries close Friday September 30th at 9am. Winners announced Monday October 3rd between 7am and 8.30am with Vinnie & Kirt for Breakfast.

Winners

Reuben from Otumoetai Primary, Sherwood St/Otumoetai Road

Eliza-Jane from Mount Primary, Orkney Road

Alex from St Thomas More Primary, Gloucester Road, Bayfair