Watt a surprise award

UPBEAT: Teenage drummers Ryan Taylor (left) and Nick Douch, with Waikato Branch Child Cancer Foundation chairperson Margaret Baird, and their personalised awards from Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts for their charity work. 178061AD

Two young Te Awamutu drummers received endorsements from one of the world’s rock legends last week - not for their musical expertise, but for their charitable efforts.

Rolling Stones kit man Charlie Watts made the endorsement to Te Awamutu College students Ryan Taylor and Nick Douch for their work with the Child Cancer Foundation.

The Waikato Branch of CCF made the surprise presentation of personalised signed photographs from Watts at a special function for the boys. It included a letter from the star himself:

‘To Ryan and Nick,
It’s great to be able to acknowledge the often unsung work of people in charitable organisations and particularly young folk, who, at a time when they could easily be out doing other things have chosen to commit some of their time making life better for others less fortunate. Best wishes for the future’- Charlie Watts.

In the musical field Ryan is senior drummer for the Gold Award Te Awamutu College Concert Band and Nick sits behind the kit for his band Eqwanox.

The Child Cancer Foundation acknowledged considerable work and assistance behind the scenes from the two teenagers. CCF enjoys a profile with younger people through branding by Eqwanox at their shows and via their web pages.Ryan’s computer skills have come to the fore, saving the CCF promoter valuable organisational time. Their combined musical knowledge, especially of younger generation bands and acts, is also valued when putting promotions together. The foundation also acknowledges Ryan’s sporting profile makes him an ideal CCF ambassador.

Both Ryan and Nick admire Charlie Watts as being one of the most famous drummers of our time, and for being a versatile artist drumming everything from jazz, to blues, to rock.

As they had both had a direct input into obtaining Rolling Stones tickets to both New Zealand shows it seemed only fitting that CCF show their appreciation in this way, and they say Watts was more than happy to assist.

The boys’ roles are part of a bigger group which manifests itself to the public primarily as the giveaways of music and concert tickets which feature regularly in the Te Awamutu Courier and our sister publication, Hamilton This Week. The two APN papers have been running the promotions since the beginning, assisting CCF to gain benefits for children with cancer, and their families, currently in excess of $2.4 Million. The aim of the network is to procure tickets to shows and concerts and provide some welcome relief for the CCF families.

The tickets benefit the children themselves, plus parents, grandparents and other caregivers and are normally allocated to those who normally would not be in a position to afford to attend the shows and concerts.