Giving a Young Boy a Chance in Life
“Run Harry Run”

A group of Christchurch women are running for Harry.

“Run Harry Run” is a team of enthusiastic mums wanting to do something BIG for Cystic Fibrosis Canterbury and three year old Harry Ensor is their inspiration.

Team member, Liz Winters, says Cystic Fibrosis (CF) can be a difficult issue to understand, grasp and support, and having a human face – an actual person with the condition, helps to address that.

“Look at him, he’s gorgeous and so full of life,” Liz says. “We are all mums with young children and realise how lucky we all are. How can we not do something to help? So we are”.

A fundraising drive is underway which includes each woman being sponsored by friends, family and work colleagues to run the Christchurch Half Marathon on the 2nd June. The website givealittle.co.nz/org/RunHarryRun has been set up where people can donate to CF Canterbury and http://www.runharryrun.blogspot.co.nz is where people can learn more about the fundraising, Harry and CF . There’s an auction night in late May to raise much needed funds.

“It’s Harry’s 4th birthday on the 24th May so it seemed perfect to hold the auction night then too’ says Liz.

The evening “A Night on the Green” will be held at the Burnside Bowling Club; Christchurch singer and actor Ali Harper is MCing and entertaining, and items donated by Canterbury businesses will be auctioned.
“We want to make a real difference to Harry’s life and so many others who have CF,” says Liz. “We are determined to succeed and encourage others to help us in any way they can.”

Donations can also be made at any BNZ Branch account 02-0820-0202783-97

Meet Harry Ensor….

Harry was born 24 May 2009, a healthy 8 pounds 8 ounces. 

At six-weeks old he was diagnosed with CF.  Now 3 ½ - Harry has just started kindergarten as he is old enough to be introduced to more bacteria so he can build up and strengthen his immune system.

His daily routine includes taking 17 different enzyme capsules to help him digest his food, using a nebuliser to break up the sticky mucus that forms on his lungs followed by 20-30 minutes of physiotherapy to vibrate the mucus off his lungs twice a day. Through all of this Harry remains wonderfully good natured.

There are no certainties with CF, some die young, some live to their 40s.  What we do know is science is making great advancements and as he is young, time is on his side.

More info on Harry’s Story:  runharryrun.blogspot.co.nz

Running and Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis Canterbury
Proudly sponsored by Mike Greer Homes
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is NZs most common life-threatening inherited condition.  There is no known cure. While you may have heard of CF you may not be aware of what CF sufferers and their families go through on a daily basis.
There is very little Government funding available and Cystic Fibrosis Canterbury works hard to support CF families, however this support is limited. 

Run Harry Run is fundraising for this worthwhile charity.

Run Harry Run is a team of enthusiastic mums wanting to do something BIG for Cystic Fibrosis Canterbury with Harry as our inspiration.

Below are details of our fundraising drive:

• Each woman is being sponsored by friends, family & work colleagues to run the Christchurch Half Marathon 2nd June
• http://www.givealittle.co.nz/org/RunHarryRun
• Donations at any BNZ Branch Account  02-0820-0202783-97
• Auction night for 200 people, Friday 24th May (Harry’s 4th Birthday) at the Burnside Bowling Club with MC and Entertainer Ali Harper and auction items donated by local and national businesses

For more information and photos of Harry and the group contact Liz Winters on 021 358 678

Spotswood College in New Plymouth has raised $1000 for the Child & Adolescent Ward at the Taranaki Base Hospital.

The school told students that the student council had chosen the money to be donated to the ward because of the amount of students that have used or could use the ward. 

The money was raised in a mufti day the school had which is when students pay to bring there own clothing.

COMMUNITY TRUST'S 4.5 MILLION DONATION

This follows a 4.5 million dollar donation to the new childrens ward at the Taranaki Base Hospital by the TSB Community Trust which is to be completed in August.

The donation will be the TSB Trusts largest ever donation to mark its 25th anniversary. 

Because of the large grant the Taranaki Base Hospital is to name the ward "The TSB Children's Ward"

Tony Foulkes said that the grant was a marvellous thing to do and I want to say a huge thank you to the TSB Community Trust" 

When the ward is completed in August it is estimated that it would have cost the Taranaki District Health Board $80 million.

The Neonatal Trust is holding one of the biggest fundraising events ever in New Zealand; the Ride4Life charity road cycle ride!

For three weeks a team of cyclists, including ex All Black Christian Cullen, will put their lives on hold as they bike the length of New Zealand aiming to raise one million dollars for this very worthy charity.

Ten per cent of all babies born in New Zealand have to go to a hospital neonatal unit; that is around 6000 babies a year. The Neonatal Trust in New Zealand supports the families during this traumatic time, helps buy special equipment for Neonatal Care Units and contributes to medical research. The Neonatal Trust doesn’t receive any Government funding and relies on donations, sponsorship and fundraising.

From February 25th to March 15 a core team of 7 cyclists, will bike from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Several celebrities will join the team on different legs of the route.

A team of around 30 collectors will travel with the cyclists to collect donations as the cyclists bike through towns and cities in each region.

The Ride4Life will culminate with an attempt to break the New Zealand indoor velodrome record by previous Neonatal Trust chairman Eugene Collins in Invercargill on the 15th of March.

Weekes family sponsor Neonatal Trust Ride4Life charity cycle event

One of the major sponsors for Ride4Life is the couple who lost their triplets in a Doha mall fire last year, Jane and Martin Weekes.

The couple, currently living in Auckland, are undergoing IVF treatment again. They are also continuing to fight for justice for their late two year old triplets Lillie, Jackson and Willsher at court hearings in Qatar.

Mr Weekes says all the money donated to them at the time of their children’s funerals as well as any money made by magazine articles since then, has been given straight to the Neonatal Trust. He says so far that amounts to around $10,000.

The Weekes are fuel sponsors for Ride4life which is a three week charity bike ride the length of New Zealand, aiming to raise one million dollars for the Neonatal Trust.

They will be sponsoring the 12 vehicles that are travelling with the cyclists from Cape Reinga to Bluff, carrying the team of collectors.

The Weekes triplets spent sometime in the Wellington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after they were born ten weeks prematurely on March 11 2010.

Martin is on the board of the Neonatal Trust and is passionate about the work the Trust does in New Zealand.

For more information please contact Neonatal Trust CEO Michael Meads 0272210730 or go to www.ride4life.co.nz

Calling supporters for 2013 Red Puppy Appeal

On April 5 and 6 this year, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) needs a brigade of volunteers to collect money throughout the country.

RNZFB is calling for people to take part in the annual Red Puppy Appeal by volunteering to collect money in their local area and fundraise for the breeding and training of guide dogs.

By spending just a few hours on April 5 and 6 collecting on the streets, in local malls, supermarkets and shopping centres, volunteers will be helping people who are blind or have low vision, like 11-year-old Amy from New Plymouth.

Like most children, Amy wants a puppy. But for Amy having a dog has a special significance and will give her the independence she has never had.

Right now Amy is learning how to use a cane with the help of Jo, one of RNZFB’s dedicated Independent Life Skills Specialists, which she is using this year at intermediate school.

Amy hopes that one day she will be able to have the constant companion of a RNZFB guide dog.  “Having a guide dog would be amazing! I could catch the bus by myself and go to so many places!” says Amy.

RNZFB guide dogs give people the freedom and confidence to live an independent life. There is currently a 12 month waiting list and it can take even longer for people with particular needs.

RNZFB Executive Director of Supporter Marketing and Fundraising, Alison Wheatley, says RNZFB puppies go through a robust training programme before they graduate to become working guide dogs.

“We do not charge our members to receive a RNZFB guide dog – all the costs for breeding and training are met by public donations, sponsorship and legacies. Right now there are people still waiting to receive guide dogs, so it’s really important we get donations to maintain this life-changing service,” says Alison Wheatley.

Keen supporters of the Red Puppy Appeal include the Prime Minister’s wife Bronagh Key, Kate Hawkesby and Mike Hosking.

To sign up to be a volunteer on April 5 and 6, visit redpuppy.org.nz or phone 0800 120 254.
Ends

Notes to Editors about RNZFB and Guide Dog Services:

• The RNZFB is New Zealand’s main provider of sight loss services to people who are blind or have low vision. 

• The RNZFB equips its members with the adaptive skills, technology and resources they need to overcome the barriers they face to participating fully in society and leading independent lives.

• Every day an average of three New Zealanders register with the RNZFB for support with sight loss.

• RNZFB guide dogs are taught to guide people around hazards, negotiate traffic, locate common destinations and travel on public transport. RNZFB puppies are identified by their bright red coats and the average working life of a RNZFB guide dog is eight to 10 years.

• The RNZFB receives no government funding for Guide Dog Services so your support of the Red Puppy Appeal will help Kiwis who are blind or have low vision live a full and independent life.

Queenstown’s annual gay and lesbian pride festival is back again and for the first time the event will raise funds for charity.

Attracting crowds from all over New Zealand, Australia and further afield, DNA Gay Ski Week QT is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Winter Pride event, held in Queenstown from August 31 to September 8 2013.

This year Queenstown wife and wife team Sally and Mandy Whitewoods will donate six per cent of the accommodation revenue from bookings at Novotel Queenstown to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF).

The couple said they wanted to “give back” to the gay and lesbian community and support the national charity which works to eradicate HIV and AIDS and provides assistance for people living with HIV and their families.

“We’re highly appreciative of the continuous support we get from people who attend the event, our sponsors and Queenstown business partners,” said Sally Whitewoods.

“We thoroughly enjoy organizing the event and bringing the gay and lesbian community together for a week of skiing and fun. This year we wanted to help the NZAF promote their cause and encourage anyone attending this year’s event to book their accommodation at the Novotel to support this amazing charity.”

NZAF Executive Director Shaun Robinson said the organisation was extremely thankful to Sally and Mandy for recognising and supporting the NZAF.

“It’s such a wonderfully generous thing for them to do. Gay and bi guys are overwhelmingly affected by HIV in New Zealand and much of the NZAF’s work focuses on HIV prevention and support for this group. To be recognised in this way by such a key rainbow event as Gay Ski Week is a real testament to the spirit of the rainbow community in this country and the collective determination to see an end to our HIV epidemic,” Mr Robinson said.

“The event is now well established on the national and international gay and lesbian calendar and offers a fabulous opportunity for people to come and let their hair down, enjoy all the amazing events and Queenstown’s amazing café, bar and restaurant scene,” said Sally Whitewoods.

“There’s always time for a bit of ski slope action too.”

The programme kicks off with the More FM Opening Party on Saturday August 31st where guests will enjoy a celebratory glass of Veuve Clicquot before hitting the hottest night spots of Queenstown. Other highlight events include ‘Bingay’, a take on traditional bingo at the Ballarat Trading Company, and the must-do Casino Royale night at Skyline Gondola.

Full programme details and accommodation bookings are available at www.gayskiweekqt.com. Tickets go on sale on February 1 2013

The audience at Saturday’s TSB Bank Festival of Lights’ Hatchery Lawn concert dug deep in their pockets for a fundraiser.

More than $1,200 was donated during the collection at the Shaskeen Reel show, with the proceeds being split between Taranaki Hospice and the festival.

“We’re thrilled with how much the audience donated,” says Acting Manager Events Tricia Logan. “It’s a fantastic response and we thank everyone who has supported the festival and Hospice Taranaki.”

Saturday’s show was the first of two fundraisers: The second will be on Friday 25 January during the Crosswinds performance, with the proceeds being divided again between Taranaki Hospice and the TSB Bank Festival of Lights.

The Council is turning the popularity of the TSB Bank Festival of Lights into support for Hospice Taranaki.

On two evenings during the festival’s run in Pukekura Park, volunteers will be collecting donations with the proceeds being shared between the hospice and the festival.

“We were very pleased to be asked to be a recipient of half the donations,” says Hospice Taranaki Chief Executive Kevin Neilsen.

“We have ongoing fundraising requirements and we appreciate the opportunity to receive support from those going to the TSB Bank Festival of Lights.”

Volunteers will be collecting donations at two Hatchery Lawn events: Tomorrow night (Saturday) at the Shaskeen Reel show, and on Friday 25 January during the Crosswinds performance.

If either of these events is cancelled due to rain, the collections will take place another night.

Acting Manager Events Tricia Logan says the collections are a great opportunity for the festival to support a worthy community organisation.

“Hospice Taranaki is an organisation that many of us in the community have an association with, and we know the incredible job they do with providing palliative care services to the people of Taranaki and support to their families,” she says.

“We get hundreds of people to the On Stage shows on the Hatchery Lawn, and we hope the audience at these two concerts will consider donating when the collectors come around.”

NPDC’s half of the donations on those two nights, as well as money collected through the donation boxes at Pukekura Park throughout the festival, will be invested in the TSB Bank Festival of Lights.

The recent Gatsby Comes to Abbeville event raised more than $11,000 for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

The inaugural Auckland Airport Business District charity event, held on Saturday 1 December at Abbeville Estate, was a resounding success, according to Peter Alexander, General Manager Property for Auckland Airport. 

"Auckland Airport is keen to partner with the community around us in a raft of meaningful ways, making great use of our many outstanding facilities, as we did with the Gatsby event at Abbeville for the Breast Cancer Foundation," he says.

"The event had a great turn out and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely – the weather certainly turned it on for us! We look forward to hosting charity events like this on an annual basis."

The money raised was officially presented to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation today, and Evangelia Henderson, Chief Executive of the Foundation says the money will help fund its national educators, who work in communities around New Zealand.

"We know that early detection of breast cancer gives women the best chance of survival, and that means starting mammograms at 40," she says. “Without the funds raised by companies like Auckland Airport, we couldn’t reach as many women with this important message.”

The event was themed in celebration of the upcoming Baz Luhrmann remake of The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo di Caprio and Carey Mulligan, and was attended by a number of prominent Aucklanders, including Dame Rosie Horton. Abbeville Estate, which features a number of carefully restored historic buildings, will play host to the 2013 summer charity event.

Additional Information

·         Abbeville Estate is a quality boutique development which is unique to this area and complementary to the cultural landscape. It is located in an area situated within the Auckland Airport Business District precinct called “The Common”, and is comprised of carefully restored heritage buildings. The Common includes heritage and recreation activities, as well as weddings and other functions to showcase New Zealand food and wine

·         The Auckland Airport Business District is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing economic hubs. Almost 22,000 people work around Auckland Airport, more than Newmarket’s entire workforce, and hundreds of businesses call it home. The Auckland Airport Business District is surrounded by a rich community of businesses and services that offer people the opportunity to work, rest, shop, play dine and fly – all in one location

·         The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) is a not-for-profit charitable trust and is totally reliant on grants and donations from the New Zealand public. The NZBCF is the country’s foremost breast cancer education and awareness organisation, promoting promote awareness of breast cancer, providing information and education, and raising funds to support breast cancer-related initiatives, including research, scholarships, medical grants, community education and a breast cancer patient register. The Foundation was specifically established to educate all New Zealanders on the life-saving benefits of early detection and the importance of mammograms. The ‘pink ribbon’ is the international symbol of breast cancer and trademarked to the Foundation in New Zealand. October is International Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Foundation’s major fundraising event. The month is supported by an extensive multi-media awareness campaign, education programme, the sale of pink ribbons through retailers nationwide and the Pink Ribbon Day Street Appeal

There will be an extra special way to remember loved ones at the Maunu Cemetery this Christmas.

​A small group of Ribbon trees will be displayed next to the cemetery office, where, for a small donation, visitors can write a note and tie it to the tree in remembrance of those who won’t be here this Christmas.

Council Cemetery and Conservatory Manager Helen Cairns said although ribbons and note cards will be available, people are free to tie other small gifts or ornaments to the trees if they wish.

All funds raised will be donated to the Salvation Army to help them with the important work they carry out at Christmas and throughout the year.

The trees will be ready to accept ribbons from Monday 10 December and will remain in place until the New Year.

Good weather and a lot of passion made for a successful Ride Event on Saturday 10 November across 8 cities nationwide. Men and women across the country dressed in all manner of pink attire to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Trust (BCRT). One participant even volunteered to wear a pink g-string which attracted a $1000 donation.

cityfitness put on the annual Ride-A-Thon asking for people to book a bike for a one hour ride class. With 4 classes running back to back simultaneously in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Masterton, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch, the event was bigger than ever and was the biggest coordinated ride class of its kind in New Zealand.

The aim was to raise over $11,100 for the charity. With the current tally being $18,844, the event was deemed a huge success for all concerned.

‘‘It was inspiring to see the physical effort and financial contributions that so many members of the cityfitness community put into this event. The staff, our members and their guests had a great day, an intense workout, and hopefully made a big difference to the efforts of the BCRT.’ says cityfitness Director of Group Fitness Allyson Donnelly. ‘we see the power of health and fitness every day inside our clubs and events such as this one illustrate how this power can manifest itself in the communities around our clubs as well.’

Deputy Chair of the Breast Cancer Research Trust, Tony Moffatt, comments, “This is the third consecutive year that a large scale event has been held by cityfitness to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Trust. So far over $40,000 has been raised with this year being the largest to date. As our goal of finding a cure for breast cancer by 2018 gets closer it’s fundraising like this that will get us there.”

For more photos of participating cityfitness locations click the links below:

Nelson
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityfitnessnz/sets/72157632009901517/show/

Christchurch
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityfitnessnz/sets/72157632009931185/show/

Palmerston North
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityfitnessnz/sets/72157632009942867/show/

Wellington
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityfitnessnz/sets/72157632013947038/show/

Hamilton
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityfitnessnz/sets/72157632013968792/show/

Auckland
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityfitnessnz/sets/72157632013993466/show/

For further information including links to each fundraising page, please visit www.breastcancercure.org.nz.

When it comes to experiencing wonderful gardens, sometimes it pays to follow one’s… Rose!

Organiser of the Waihua Station Garden Fair, in the Hawke's Bay, Rose Haynes, says opening her historic homestead garden to the public for the first time in many years will allow her to do her part for a worthy organisation, Starship Children’s Hospital.

“I know a number of children in our area who have spent time at Starship. When you live in such an isolated community, it is comforting to know that there is a place where our children can be taken care of should the worst happen,” she says.

“My aim for this garden fair is for people to come along, enjoy the garden and give generously.”

In addition to viewing Rose’s extensive grounds, visitors will also be able to engage in courses under the expert tutelage of such artists and artisans as painter, Verity Claire Pattison, traditional furniture maker, Jasper Murphy, and Sarah Spence, an award-winning sculptural artist.

Complete with stalls, food and drink and live music, the Waihua Station Garden Fair promises a genuine pre-summer treat.

Tickets – adults $10, children aged 12 or under, free – will be available from the gate, located on Glendining Road, approximately 20 minutes south of Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay.

For more information, or to register for a workshop course – spaces are limited – email Rose at: waihua.station@gmail.com

http://www.garden-nz.co.nz/garden-events/events/waihua-station-garden-fair-november-24-25.html

Tickets are now on sale for Queenstown Plunket’s annual Garden Tour fundraiser set to give garden enthusiasts special access to some of the Wakatipu’s most enjoyable outdoor spaces.

To be held on Sunday December 9, the popular event is one of Queenstown Plunket’s major fundraising events for the year. Following its success last year, organisers are sure that garden enthusiasts of all degrees will love the range of gardens that will unveil their delights to the public for a good cause.

Queenstown Plunket President Jane Hamilton said the event would offer an “impressive” range of gardens, sure to excite anyone from the serious gardener to those wanting a great day out around the Wakatipu.

“We have two gardens from last year back by popular demand, including Mike Henry’s incredible Lower Shotover Road property which features over 10 acres of landscaped themed gardens,” said Mrs Hamilton.

“The rest of the gardens are all new for this year.  We really wanted to mix up the gardens on offer this year, there’s a great range to see that’s sure to give people ideas and inspiration to apply to their own backyard.

“The gardens we chose are all about people enjoying their outdoor spaces, whether it’s for formality, or for family living, or for growing your own vegetables,” said Mrs Hamilton.

The full list of featured gardens will be announced on the day when circuit maps are available for collection from Lakes Leisure Events Centre from 9.30am.  Garden tourers can make their own way around the circuit by car with all gardens being open from 10am to 4pm.

All guests are invited to finish the day at Mike Henry’s property for Devonshire Tea, which will also include raffles and a lucky ticket draw.

“It will be a great way to end the day - and look out for the beautiful bunches of peonies we will have on sale, kindly donated by Amanda and John Cushen from Queenstown Country Lodge.”

Funds raised from the garden tour will go towards the completion of the $40,000 upgrade to Queenstown Plunket’s outdoor play area, which includes a new all-weather sandpit, new toys, new safety matting and sun-shades for children using the facility.

“The improvements to our outdoor play area are a vital piece of work to complete as it provides our Queenstown families with a dynamic, safe outdoor play area for children to use while parents use the wide range of free services that Plunket provides by way of clinic visits, help, support and resources.

“Many people don’t realise that Plunket only receives Government funding for nurse services, it is thanks to the fundraising efforts of volunteers and the community that we are able to carry out all the other activities we do such as Plunket rooms, facilities and parent support groups.

”Around 500 people visit the Queenstown Plunket Rooms and clinics each month.  This is a lot of people who will directly benefit from an outdoor play area, especially for many of our Wakatipu families who perhaps don’t have access to sunny, safe spots during winter.”

“Outdoor play is extremely beneficial to mental health and well-being for the whole family,” said Mrs Hamilton.

Tickets are on sale now from Queenstown Plunket as well as Harcourts Queenstown, and BNZ Queenstown and BNZ Remarkables Park.

Queenstown Plunket Garden Tour will be held on December 9th from 10am – 4pm. Tickets are $25 and are now on sale at BNZ branches at Queenstown and Remarkables Park, Harcourts Queenstown and Queenstown Plunket Rooms.  The tour will include a visit to eight special Wakatipu gardens and will conclude with a Devonshire Tea at the Chantecler Homestead between 2 and 4pm.  Circuit maps will be available on the day from Lakes Leisure Events Centre from 9.30am – 12pm.  Enquiries can be made directly to the Queenstown Plunket Room on 03 442 7380 or qtwnplunket@xtra.co.nz