Ngaio was eager to be involved as soon as she saw me setting up for this one! Yellow symbolises sunlight 🌞 on the 1978 Pride Flag, centering the design on warmth and positivity. The sun didn’t come out for us much today, but all this yellow still cheered me up no end 💛 Thanks so much for all your support! We’ve almost made it to $1000, which means we’re in the running for a Very Important Betty medal 🥇🫨
This is my 1st
year sweating
I’m sweating to celebrate and uplift my Rainbow whānau
Why I’m Sweating with Pride
I'm taking on Sweat with Pride this June! 💦🌈
Right now, schools, workplaces, and even doctors’ offices aren’t safe for many in our community—and it’s putting lives at risk. LGBTQIA+ Kiwis face higher rates of mental illness, suicide, and STIs like syphilis, mpox, and HIV.
But the real reason I’m participating is because an extremely young person asked the adults in their life why we weren’t!
So, I'm fighting discrimination with perspiration—exercising 30 minutes every day in June to raise money for life-changing Rainbow support services.
Thank you so much for your support! ❤️
My Fundraising
Impact
Achieved
In Progress
$100
Provides vital resources to support Rainbow communities
Achieved
In Progress
$300
Free, confidential mental health support for Rainbow Kiwis
Achieved
In Progress
$500
Ensures more people can access life-changing health services without cost barriers
Achieved
In Progress
$1,000
Fund an educational workshop to create safer, more inclusive spaces
Achieved
In Progress
$2,500
Provides a full day of community outreach, to improve wellbeing and reduce stigma on a large scale
💖 I’m $1,294 away from my next impact milestone. Will you help me reach it?
Track My
Sweat
I’m sweating for 30 minutes per day this June!
680 minutes completed
900 minutes goal
My Fundraising
Ranking
I’m #20 out of 4,059 Sweaty Bettys
20
Ruth Corkill
Raised
$1,206
My Blog
Updates
Squeezing this one in right at the end of the day, and Ngaio cannot reasonably be expected to hold still for a long exposure! Kākāriki symbolises nature 🌿 and I’m sure many of my exercise updates this June will involve some naturing. We’re very lucky in Wellington to have our gorgeous beaches and green belt to take our leisure in. Thanks for all of the support, and for a good excuse for a nighttime garden frolic! 💚
Kārikiōrangi isn’t included in modern pride flags because it’s difficult to produce, but we already had the outfits. Besides, the original meaning of art and magic is too good to leave out! Incredibly we have already hit the next milestone, so I will be posting another picture very soon!
Kahurangi symbolised serenity in the original rainbow flag, so what better way to celebrate our $600 milestone than with some serene gardening under a blue sky! Wellbeing is top of mind for me at the moment, especially in the context of the recent threats to trans, intersex, and takatāpui whānau rights in Aotearoa. The Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill, passed its first reading in Parliament on Wednesday and will now go through the select committee process. Please remember to make submissions on the bill to ensure our voices are all heard. Take care of yourselves and each other, and stay whimsical 💙
We’re still on the couch, but we’ve already raised $500! Thank you for all the incredible support we’ve received so far. For every additional $100 we raise I will post a picture of Ngaio 🐕🦺 and I in outfits inspired by the colours of the pride flags. Today’s colour is violet 💜 which symbolised spirit on the original 1978 pride flag. Ngaio is keeping it simple with a ginkgo print ruff and oversized hydrangea, while I don hand knitted birthday gloves from my auntie and enjoy butterfly pea flower tea with a dash of lemon.
The support I’ve received for Sweat With Pride has been incredible, and June hasn’t even started yet! Thank you to everyone who has donated or offered their tautāwhi.
To keep things fun (and a little bit silly), I’m setting a milestone: once I hit my $500 goal, I’ll post a photo of Ngaio 🐕🦺 and me rocking matching workout gear. For every $100 I raise after that we will work our way through the colours of the pride flag, so stay tuned for some very stylish content @ngaiothepoodle on instagram.
Since it’s still May, I also want to flag 🏳️🌈 that May is Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) Awareness Month. I have Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome, which shapes how I move, exercise, and look after my body.
When I exercise I need to focus on low-impact strengthening, stabilisation, and proprioception to support my joints and avoid injury or dislocation. During Sweat With Pride, you’ll see me logging things like reformer Pilates, hydrotherapy, and physiotherapy sessions.
I’ll also be sharing some bushwalks at Zealandia and plenty of dog walks with Ngaio 🐾🌿
Thanks again for being part of this journey with me 💜
My Generous
Sponsors
$300
Stephen
$100
Harsh Vardhan
Good on you Ruth
$50
Rohan Jackson
Be gay do cardio 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
$50
E+J+G
Congratulations on your fundraising milestones. Love the rainbow pics of you and Ngaio. Keep up the mahi. E+J+ G
$50
Stacey
Love what you do! xx
$50
Nat Hunt
$50
do.kim
Nice one Ruth. Great cause, awesome effort.
$50
Olivia Keesing
Katahi te wahine tautoko ko koe!
$50
Anonymous
$50
Norma
Go Ruth!
$46
Stuart and Ross
Well done Ruth 💕
$46
Amin
$46
Mary
As you know, Ruth, theatre attracts quite a few LGBTQIA+ young people, and I personally have watched and been supportive of several as they grew into their understanding of how to feel comfortable in their skins, so I agree with you - a good cause to support.
$36
Tamara
Looking forward to seeing the next photo shoot with you and Ngaio
$30
Esther Hamburger
Hi Ruth, Well done for joining sweating with pride, very proud I'll be adding to your 30 min a day on occasion. This is for the young one who encouraged you; " Thank you for motivating Ruth and we are so happy to support raising funds and awareness"
$30
Ruth Corkill
$25
Shirley
Awaiting the next colour change !
$25
Alex
$25
Sweaty Besties
Keep on sweating! Arohanui, 2degrees, AA Insurance, ASB, and Auckland Council.
$22
Suzy Cain
$20
Jason MACKIEWICZ
Love that you're doing this, Ruth. All the best!!
$20
Will Clannachan
Well done Ruth 👏 My son has navigated life's ups and downs pre and post his decision to live openly as a confident, professional and caring gay person and I love him to bits for the person he is.
$10
Anonymous
lets make another picture
$10
Grant Hansen
From Grant & Michelle
$10
Sara Schroder
This is awesome Ruth! Get that sweat on
$5
Ellie Gill
Kia kaha Ruth!
