Heart Children New Zealand wins Canon's Creative for a Cause
Sunday 9 August 2009, 5:48PM
By Donovan Boyd PR
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Heart Children New Zealand has won $25,000 through Canon’s Creative for a Cause photographic competition.
Entrants were invited to upload images to the Canon Creative for a Cause website to draw awareness to their chosen cause/charity. Over the eight weeks of the competition, over 800 images were uploaded representing 200 diverse causes.
Simon Corbett is the photographer of the winning image ‘These are the Eyes,’ which depicts five-month old Finlay Aicheson weeks before he underwent open heart surgery. Finlay was born with three holes in his heart and without a pancreas or gallbladder, and is one of ten people in the world to survive being born with this condition.
“Finlay has been through so much for a little baby,” says Mr Corbett who is a friend of the Aicheson family.
“Creative for a Cause gave me the chance to draw people’s attention to the challenges faced every day by children who suffer heart defects from birth.”
Lara Syddall, Chief Executive of Heart Children New Zealand was thrilled and overwhelmed when she heard that they had won the Canon competition.
“Raising funds in this financial environment is proving tough,” says Mrs Syddall. “This is a huge boost to our morale and for those heart children and their families who do not stop needing help because of the world economic situation.
“This wonderful gift from Canon will go towards Heart Children New Zealand’s Family Support Service, which provides practical and emotional support for families like Finlay’s from the time the baby is born, through surgery and when it is time to go home.
“It’s a frightening time for families who are struggling to come to terms with their new baby being diagnosed with a congenital heart condition. There is support available and that is where Heart Children New Zealand comes in,” says Mrs Syddall.
Mike Johnston, Country Manager Canon New Zealand, is proud of the contribution the company is making to charities through Creative for a Cause.
“The theme of the competition was ‘One image can change the world,’ and it certainly has changed the lives of Heart Children New Zealand,” says Mr Johnston. “Canon is committed to making a tangible difference to the lives of our customers and communities through responsible environmental practices, transparency in our business dealings and a commitment to non-profit organisations.
“Giving people the opportunity to identify causes that are important to them has shown us the depth of social awareness and care that exists in New Zealand. Canon is very proud to have been a part of that,” he says.
The top 24 images were chosen based on votes from the public, and five finalists were selected by a panel of judges including Bronagh Key, photographer Brendan O’Hagan and Canon’s Mike Johnston and Rochelle Mora.