CanTeen fundraiser tops 27K

ACTING assistant regional manager, Central Prisons Service Terry Buffery (centre) hands over a cheque for the $27,000 raised to CanTeen Waikato’s Dan Henderson (left) and Aisha Ross, who present him with a kowhai to plant at Waikeria Prison. TC091208GJ02

BY GRANT JOHNSTON

The boxing/head shaving fundraiser run by Central Region Prisons Service staff recently raised over $27,000 for CanTeen.

At a debrief at Waikeria Prison on Friday, co-ordinator Sef Bourke said the crowd that packed into Te Awamutu Events Centre was close to capacity. While the committee was confident of matching the figure raised at the inaugural event 18 months ago of around $21,500, they were delighted with the end result.

Mr Bourke said the excellent outcome was the result of a lot of hard work by prisons staff, with great support from Henry Bennett Centre and Police and from the business community and community in general. He said the support of the prison management should not be overlooked, as it was quite an exercise in logistics to enable staff to devote the time necessary to organise the event.

Mr Bourke said there was a lot of anticipation already for the next event, but the committee endorsed his suggestion that it be held in 18 months time to allow staff to work on other projects and to keep the event ‘fresh’.

Dan Henderson and Aisha Ross, member support managers for CanTeen Waikato, expressed appreciation to the committee and said the amount raised at the two events represented a significant contribution to CanTeen’s programmes for teenagers in the region living with cancer.

All present agreed that CanTeen teenager, Aohden Hamilton (of Hamilton) was a real star of the fundraising night, speaking to the crowd beforehand and congratulating all of the participants.