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For a lot of people, even the idea of getting up at 5.30 in the morning is rather draining. For Ethan Elder-Bickers, however, an 11-year-old boy from Hamilton, it’s become a way of life for two mornings each week.

What makes Ethan’s story even more impressive is that before he does this, Ethan has to put metal splints on his legs to help them work. This is something that he does every morning because Ethan has Muscular Dystrophy.

Find out how much of a difference YMCA is making in the life of an 11 year old boy. 

Summer holidays are the ultimate time for adventure – and for a lucky group of kids from the YMCA Hamilton Recreation Centre’s school holiday programme, adventure came in the form of a fishing trip to the Coromandel.

Bright and early on a late January morning, the group of eight kids and four YMCA staffers piled into two vans and hit the road; amped up for a day of sun and sights.

Find out who caught the most Snapper on the Coromandel adventure

YMCA Hamilton is dedicated to building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. This vision is at the heart of the work being done through their Melville After School Care programme.

It wasn't commercially viable to run an after school care programme at Melville Primary School, but that doesn't change the need in the community.

Find out how YMCA Hamilton is helping kids in the Melville Community.

Members of Qatar’s U-20 national football team touched down in New Zealand recently to compete in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. It’s the first time that Qatar has been a part of the FIFA U-20 World Cup for 20 years, and the team made the most of enjoying New Zealand by engaging with the local Waikato community.

Find out how Variety, YMCA and Qatar's football team have been working together to invest into the Hamilton Community

As a lot of people can attest, losing weight is no easy task. It is difficult to even imagine the challenge facing Grace Payne when she decided to undertake her weight loss journey.

“I was 186kg at my heaviest, " she says, a point she got to after her mother passed away. "I ate anything and everything, times three! I wasn’t moving, and my breathing was out of control.”

Find out what Grace achieved and how she's enjoying life now.

Two daredevil siblings, Zoe and Jayden Flemming, are BMX champions who regularly represent New Zealand in overseas competitions.

Find out how YMCA has been helping Zoe and Jayden tackle their dreams on an international stage.

YMCA Auckland believes that water safety should be an important aspect of all children’s education, and that it can never start too early. At the end of September, as part of its school holiday programme, YMCA North Shore took a group of around 40 children to YMCA Glen Innes Aquatic and Fitness Centre to take part in a special water safety workshop.

Find out how YMCA centres are working together together to make sure all children have access to water safety education

Founded in 1963 by Sir Murray Halberg, the Halberg Disability Sports Foundation works to ensure that all people, regardless of their ability, have equal opportunity to take part in and enhance their lives through sport. Over the past several months, the foundation and the Ellerslie Recreation Centre managed by YMCA have fostered a very rewarding partnership, with the two organisations working together for the good of the community.

Find out how the Halberg Disability Trust have been working together for the benefit of the community.

You may have heard that the suburb of Ellerslie has been dubbed ‘Arterslie’ for its fun arts and crafts scene. But did you know that the Ellerslie Recreation Centre managed by YMCA has held a lot of events to contribute to the effervescent vibe? Ellerslie Recreation Centre holds big and small events for the local community every couple of months, and best of all they’re free!

Several particularly exciting events were held recently. In May, Ellerslie Recreation Centre put on a huge carnival for their ‘Family Day Out.’ No tightrope walking elephants or roaring lions were there of course, but there were plenty of other fun carnival games.

Find out about the fun, games and activities that local families enjoyed at the Ellerslie Leisure Centre Family Day.

At the end of March Joe, along with 14 other youngsters from the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind were invited to attend the VIP camp hosted by the YMCA’s Camp Adair.

Sixteen year old Joe Taka was born visually impaired. Find out how Jo and his class mates went on their Camp Adair adventure.

For many Kiwis, camping has been woven into the fabric of our upbringing. For Wendy Sibun, who at 66 is one of the youngest members of the YMCA never2old programme, her recent experience was her first.

Wendy, along with 20 other ‘never2olders’ last month ventured to the iconic Camp Adair in Hunua for a specially planned never2old camp. “I had never been camping..."

Find out how Wendy and her fellow 'never2olders' went on their camping challenge.

According to Statistics New Zealand, sixty-five percent of Kiwis live near the coast, and New Zealand has 15,000 kilometres of it.  Sadly, Drownbase and Water Safe New Zealand report that as of 2 February, nineteen people have drowned already this year, indicating that the need for education around water and our coastlines is greater than ever.

In a bid to reduce drowning rates, find out how YMCA has partnered with Coastguard Boating Education to deliver education to 165 youngsters.