In a remarkable display of endurance and determination, a young Tauranga swimmer has taken on an extraordinary challenge to support The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge.

Over the course of 40 hours, Hunter Sands, age 15, has swum an incredible 40 kilometres, pushing the limits of physical and mental strength.

His awe-inspiring feat not only showcases his incredible swimming ability, but also serves as a powerful testament to his unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of those in need.

NZ's largest youth fundraising event, The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge took place during the weekend of June 16-18.

Hunter Sands, swimming to reach his goal. Photo: Supplied.

Tens of thousands of rangatahi around the country participated in a range of fun, creative and exciting challenges as part of The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge.

Those taking part carried out challenges over 40 hours to help raise money to provide clean water to communities in Malawi, where every day 11 children under the age of five die from diseases related to dirty water.

Other students around NZ took on challenges such as living off 40 litres of water for 40 hours, creating films in a 40 hour film festival, doing a 40 hour radio broadcast, and completing 40 paintings for an auction on Trade Me.

Hunter Sands, swimming to reach his World Vision 40 Hour Challenge goal. Photo: Supplied.

In Tauranga, Hunter Sands took to a swimming pool at his swim club - Liz Van Weile Aquatics Swim Club - in Tauranga, determined to swim 40kms in 40 hours for the World Vision New Zealand 40 hour famine. Supported by his coach Matt Teokotai-White, he did it.

Some of the time he swam by himself, and other times he swam with the swim squad or with a friend. Even his cousin did some laps alongside him.

Starting on the Friday he clocked up the following swim distances:

• 4kms Friday 4.35pm-5.30pm self
• 3kms Friday 5.30pm-7pm with the squad
• 7kms Saturday 6am-8am with the squad
• 6kms Saturday 8am-10am with Nathan Holmberg
• 10kms Saturday 1pm-4.30pm with laps beside by cousin Francesca Inglis, Tessa Harvey and Cleo Sands .

By Sunday Hunter had 10kms to go, swimming from 9am to finish the distance, with friends and family coming down to the pools to support poolside or swim beside him down.

His efforts have raised over $1200 for the fundraiser, an achievement he can rightly feel very proud of.

World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Ambassador and rugby star, Caleb Clarke, says while 40 hours may not seem like a long time, the impact that can be made in just a weekend is phenomenal.

"This is a must-do youth event and one that thousands of people are getting behind again this year," says Caleb.

"It's great to see the awesome and creative challenges young people are taking on and to know that the money they raise will be truly life-changing for kids in Malawi."

Hunter Sands was joined in the challenge by supporters, some who swam alongside him. Photo: Supplied.

Globally, millions of children have poorer education, health and wellbeing because they don't have safe water to drink. One in five children worldwide does not have enough clean water to get through the day and many have no option but to walk for hours to clean water sources.

Climate change is making things even harder as drought, floods and other extreme weather events destroy crops and land making it more difficult for many communities to access food and clean water.

Fundraising efforts will help World Vision continue to:

• Build new water systems so entire villages will have clean water close to home
• Bring emergency water to refugee camps
• Provide schools hand-washing stations to protect students from diseases
• Train community members to maintain water pumps so that clean water continues to flow for years to come.

World Vision's goal is to bring clean water to everyone, everywhere it works in more than 100 countries around the world by 2030.

"Together we can bring life-changing clean water to children in the world's toughest places and help their communities to keep clean water flowing for years to come. We're driven to help build a future where everyone, everywhere has clean water,” says World Vision's International Partnerships Director, TJ Grant.

For full details, to sign up or to make a donation visit www.40hour.org.nz. Follow @40hourNZ

Any support or donations to the Hunter's World Vision effort is still greatly appreciated:

https://my.worldvision.org.nz/ss/x4Z7MK/hunter-sands