Queenstown, New Zealand (Tuesday, July 30, 2002) - Cure Kids received a check for $265,000 from the HP 50K of Coronet at a moving ceremony at Coronet Peak today following the finish of the gruelling overnight ski endurance race.

Germany won the Janey Blair Memorial Trophy for the overall event and Canada won the Pieter Small-Smith trophy for the women's event.

The money donated to Cure Kids, was raised at a charity auction, the BMW 5K race and by staff of HP 50K who contributed $81,000.

A further $32,500 was donated by the event organizers to the Queenstown Alpine Ski team for providing the volunteer workforce for the endurance event.

Chairman of the Child Health Research Foundation Roy Austin said the amount of money raised was overwhelming and once again Queenstown had opened its heart to Cure Kids. The town had adopted the charity as its own and it was difficult to find the right words to thank the community.

Chairman of HP Russell Hewitt paid tribute to everyone involved in the race, which had been the best since it was started in 2000.

"Congratulation on the fantastic effort to the racers, volunteers and the Queenstown community. This event has raised record amount as a result of these efforts."

He wished the racers injured in the event a speedy recovery.

British racer Graham Bell spoke for all the racers when he said the Cure Kids were their inspiration for completing the race. "When we felt like giving up we thought of the kids and it helped us down the mountain."