News Type: Fundraising

Haematology staff from Dunedin hospital have shown their support for blood cancer by entering a team called the ‘Bloody Idiots’ in Stadium Climb Dunedin on Sunday 16th September.

“Our patients are supportive and also surprised because some of us are not exactly athletic. I assured them we’ll be having a ‘bloody’ good time anyway,” says Clinical Director of Haematology at Southern Blood and Cancer Service Dr Annette Neylon.

Leukaemia Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC) is the organisation that has created the event to raise money for locals affected by blood cancer and related blood conditions.

“It’s a high energy event for the people of Dunedin with an emphasis on fun. Locals get the opportunity to climb 5,200 steps in time to music. What better location than the iconic rugby venue, the Forsyth Barr stadium.” says LBC Chief Executive Officer Peter Fergusson.

The Bloody Idiots are competing against their sister team Haemodynamix also from Dunedin Hospital. The two teams combined have raised almost $10,000 to help blood cancer patients and their families. Family, friends, local businesses and haematology patients have chipped-in to sponsor the two hospital teams taking on the challenge.

“The team captain sends motivational texts to encourage us to train. I have to admit, my training so far has been limited to the dance floor at South Pacific bar and restaurant. But, I know other team members are taking their training more seriously,” says Annette.

Stadium Climb Dunedin is also a special event for Greg Jolly who was diagnosed with an aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma this time seven years ago. Greg saw his doctor for a sinus infection but it turned out to be a five centimetre cancer tumour in his nasal system. After chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Greg is now in remission and enthusiastic to be participating in a local event that supports his cause.

“It’s an opportunity to show my gratitude to the amazing people that helped through it all. My family, friends and haematology staff at Dunedin Hospital. How incredible would it be to play a part in raising money to help provide a cure or additional time and comfort to people suffering from a blood cancer,” says Greg.

For more information or to make a donation, visit Stadium Climb Dunedin.

Firefighters taking part in the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge raised more than $1.25 million for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

Nine hundred and fifty firefighters from communities around New Zealand, as well as Australia and the USA, took to the 1,103 steps of Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower wearing up to 25 kilograms of firefighting kit.

Ken Laurie from Hastings Fire Station who raised $14,020 was named the top fundraiser.

The team that raised the most money was Auckland Airport Rescue Fire which raised $47,935. The brigade that raised the most money based on the number of firefighters in the team was Ashhurst Fire Brigade.

Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade received the Community Spirit Award following the event. The team was given a long handled Māori club, a tewhatewha, carved by last year’s recipients of the award, Kerikeri Fire Brigade. The tewhatewha was carved in kauri and inlaid with paua shell and represents hope. The award recognises communities that go the extra mile in supporting their brigade’s efforts.

The fastest firefighter winning for his eighth year in a row was Josh Harrison of Mt Wellington Fire Brigade who set a new record for the event at 8 minutes and 11 seconds. In second place was Andrew Tomlinson from Howick Station who completed the climb in 9 minutes and 19 seconds, while Gavin Mason of Queenstown Airport was third with time of 9 minutes and 34 seconds.

Gavin Mason’s time was all the more remarkable given that last year he was diagnosed with the rare autoimmune disease Guillan-Barre Syndrome and barely able to climb one flight of stairs.

The fastest woman up the tower was Ady McKenzie of Whangarei Fire Brigade with a time of 13 minutes and 12 seconds. For a full record of race results please visit firefightersclimb.org.nz.

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand General Manager Georgie Hackett says the support of firefighters and communities has been outstanding.

“We are so grateful for the tremendous generosity and hard work of firefighters who fundraised such a phenomenal amount of money for the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge. We would also like to thank the many communities throughout the country who support their local brigades so enthusiastically in their fundraising efforts.

“This fundraising is so important to help grow our service supporting families living with blood cancer, right across the country.”

The event is supported by SKYCITY and Auckland Airport.

Hundreds of freshly-shaven heads will be out in force in March as Kiwis banish their bad hair days for good for Shave for a Cure!

The annual week which has seen thousands of Kiwis go bald over the last 16 years will be held from March 19 – 25. Brave ‘shavees’ will raise money to support the estimated 21,000 New Zealanders living with a blood cancer or related blood condition.

Last year close to 2,000 individuals, businesses, schools and community groups shaved raising over $1.25 million for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC).

One of the first to sign up in 2018 was 11-year-old Alyx Douglas from Hastings who braved her first Shave at nine and has patiently waited for her hair to grow back so she can do it again.

Alyx’s mum Tanya says the first time round, the mother and daughter duo braved a Shave together, but this time Alyx has decided to shave solo simply because she loves helping people.

“Alyx doesn’t know anyone directly affected by cancer but she just has a huge heart and wants to support those going through a blood cancer diagnosis. She’s really not phased at the thought of losing her hair again because she just gets so much joy out of giving back to others,” says Tanya.

Alyx has set her fundraising target at $5000 and has planned a ‘Shave day fun day’ at the local Scouts hall in Hastings where there will be bouncy castles, games, sausage sizzles and raffles with goods and vouchers donated by local businesses.

The 2018 fundraising target for Shave for a Cure is $1.2 million. LBC receives no Government funding and Shave for a Cure funds their work supporting New Zealand families living with a blood cancer or related condition.

LBC’s services include personalised patient support, funding for research – including the Leukaemia & Blood Cancer Research Unit at the University of Auckland, providing information, running awareness programmes and advocating on behalf of patients.

“It is super exciting to see how many people have already signed up to Shave in 2018. To see people like Alyx getting involved simply to help people living with blood cancer is always so lovely to see and we’re very appreciative,” says Pru Etcheverry, Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand’s CEO.

Farmers who are huge supporters of Shave for a Cure are holding Shaves at 17 stores across the country. The list of stores participating can be found here shaveforacure.co.nz/get-involved/farmers-shaves/

To find out more information and to sign up to Shave for a Cure, head to: shaveforacure.co.nz

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand’s very own Midland Support Services Coordinator, Matthew Eby ran the 2015 New York Marathon. Matthew shares his fundraising tips, trip highlights and training tricks.

If you would like to find out more about joining LBC’s Run for Blood Cancer TCS New York City Marathon team visit bit.ly/NYC4LBC

What made you want to do the New York Marathon?

I was looking for a bit of a challenge and I had never done a marathon before. I was working for the Leukaemia Foundation Australia so I thought this would be a great way to do my first marathon because I knew the money fundraised was going to a worthy cause.

What did you do to raise money?

Well of course I used Facebook a lot! My wife was amazing at creating banners, icons and taglines to ‘market’ me.

I did about 5 sausage sizzles outside Bunnings which made around $1000 each time – we would go through over 50kgs of sausage in 1 day!

In the end, I fundraised just a tick over $10,000. I was hugely grateful to be involved and had some very generous people in my life who were willing to give to a really good cause.

What was your training regime?

I set out slowly about 8 or 9 months out and I would do 3 ‘short’ runs per week on the weekdays for about 30-40 minutes each and I didn’t focus on how much distance I covered then every weekend I would do 1 ‘long’ run which started at 45 minutes the first week and then every week it grew by another 15 minutes.

My longest run a few months later was close to 3 hours! I was told by other marathoners that if I could make it this far, about 2/3 of a full marathon, then on the day of the marathon I should have enough stamina to make it all the way.

What was it like the day of the event before you started?

Despite the very early start, I was absolutely buzzing all morning being a part of the 50,000 runners waiting their turns to start this famous race! Plus, I had great support and comradery as my sister was racing too! The best part is that she actually is a bonafide marathoner, so everything she did and suggested, I took on board and she helped calm my nerves!

What was the feeling like getting to that finish line?

Almost indescribable! One of the final stretches is coming down Park Avenue felt like forever and you are so tired but when you get to the finish being cheered on by thousands of New Yorkers, you are overwhelmed with emotion, in fact, just thinking about it now brings back a rush of emotions.

Because for me, I was in a unique position in the Northern Territory where I was supporting patients and families living with a blood cancer. And to have walked and talked with some of these people who are doing it very tough, I was able to experience a very ‘tough’ moment for me whilst trying to complete this thing.

When I was really struggling during the marathon on a certain section, I was able to reach down deep and think of a patient I knew back in Australia and recite under my breath that ‘mate, this km is for you!’

The 2017 Step Up Sky Tower Stair Challenge held on August 11 raised a record $450,773.18 for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

100 teams from around New Zealand took part in this year’s event, garnering huge fundraising support from their workplaces and local communities.

Melissa Tia from Bridgestone NZ – Fitted and Balanced was named the top fundraiser for 2017 with an outstanding total of $22,200. Michael Kyriak from Auckland Seido Karate Kids was second with $7,620, followed closely by Tim O’Connor from Auckland Grammar Teachers & Alumni with a total of $6,195.

The top fundraising team for 2017 was Bridgestone NZ – Fitted and Balanced, raising an outstanding $30,430 for LBC. Coming in second was Farmers Home on $25,681 and in third was Fulton Hogan – Civil with $12,360.

Two special fundraising team spirit awards went to Wait a SEC from Westport Solid Energy Centre and Auckland Seido Karate Club.

In the race time awards, Jacson Kluts from the Speed of Fire team took first place reaching the top of the tower in an incredible 6 minutes and 49 seconds. The fastest woman up the tower was Amy Robson from the Blood.EY team with a time of 8 minutes and 17 seconds.

A massive thanks to all the incredible teams that took part and SKYCITY for their huge support of  the event.

Farmers are hugely valued long-term supporters of both Shave for a Cure and Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

In 2017, 18 Farmers stores hosted Shave for a Cure events and organised fundraising activities which raised over $208,000.

A launch event held at Farmers St Lukes saw a number of New Zealand celebrities show off their hairdressing talents in support of Shave for a Cure.

Hosted by TVNZ’s Breakfast host Hilary Barry, the event saw Moses MacKay from Sol3 Mio brave a shave in support of his godmother Michaela von Sturmer, who has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Celebrity ‘hairdressers’ Dame Valerie Adams and comedian Paul Ego also took up the clippers in support of the six Kiwis diagnosed every day with a blood cancer or related condition.

Michael Power, Farmers’ Chief Financial Officer, says Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand is a charity close to the heart of the company’s 4000 staff.

“Shave for a Cure is a campaign that all our stores get behind each year.  We know a number of our staff have been personally affected by these diseases, and alongside organising events and fundraising instore many of them take up the challenge to shave their heads to show solidarity.”

A photo album of Farmers Community Shave events can be viewed on the LBC Facebook page www.facebook.com/lbcnz.