Variety bash visit for Chatham Island
Friday 5 March 2010, 7:49AM
By Variety – The Children's Charity
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A group of 25 Variety volunteers are part of a select group currently making a special 2 day trip to the Chatham Islands as part of the Variety Bash.
“2010 is the 20th anniversary of the Variety Bash and the Chatham Islands is one of the few New Zealand territories we haven’t visited - we want to take a taste of the fun of the Variety Bash to the Chatham Islands, an experience that thousands of Kiwi kids have had over the last 20 years,” said Variety Bash Operations Manager Adam Leslie.
“It is also an opportunity for us to pay tribute to the six men who have participated in every single Variety Bash since its inception in 1990 – Peter Drummond (Parnell), Dave Shorter, Geoff Bentham (Waitakere), Murray ‘Mojo’ O’Donnell (Mellons Bay), Lou Vandermeer (Half Moon Bay) and Graeme Knight (Manukau) have all made a significant difference to the lives of Kiwi kids with their dedication to Variety.”
“Air Chathams has been an instrumental sponsor of this trip and we know the Chathams’ community is excited about our visit – the children are busy painting a car for the Bashers to travel around the island in, and they can’t wait to meet celebrities such as Variety Ambassador Liane Clark (Glendowie) and Ronald McDonald!” said Mr Leslie - McDonald’s New Zealand and Ford New Zealand have both been sponsors of the Variety Bash for 20 years.
Other members of the group travelling to the Chathams include Mt Manganui residents Mark Hellyer, Mark Passey and Geoff Butler, Barbara Bentham from Waitakere, Robin Knight from Manukau, David and Margaret Drake from Christchurch, Paul Davies from the Waikato, Lynne Bjarnesen (St Mary’s Bay), Trevor Crowther (Remuera), Ian Mccartney (Ruakaka), Paul Mullen and Robyn Cockburn (Australia), Tim Bray, Kate Eveleigh, Vern Peri, Euan Ross and Craig Towers.
“During the 2010 Variety Bash, we are distributing over $230,000 in grants and are delighted that the Chatham Islands community will benefit from this – we will be distributing bikes to role model children and providing a grant for swimming aids for Te One school,”
“The Bashers will make a lasting difference to the children of the Chathams by making over a tired playground at Te One School,” said Mr Leslie.
After the Chatham Islands visit, the main Variety Bash will start in Cathedral Square in Christchurch on March 7th before making its way to Auckland during the week-long Bash – the convoy of over 70 quirky old cars, fire engines and other vehicles will raise funds and fun for Kiwi kids, distribute over $230,000 in grants, and bring magic and fun to the schools and communities it visits.
“Helping Kiwi kids in this way would not be possible without the support of our dedicated Variety Bash sponsors Ford New Zealand, Trillian Trust, McDonald’s New Zealand, Solid Gold, NZ Post, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Toyofuji Shipping, Pacific Blue, Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries, and the support of the AA and the Royal New Zealand Airforce,” said Mr Leslie.
The mission of Variety is to help sick, disabled and disadvantaged Kiwi kids to reach their full potential – this is done through a series of grants for items which ‘fill the gaps’ that other organisations or the Government can’t or won’t fund.
Travelling from March 7th – 14th, the Variety Bash will include stops in Christchurch, Hanmer Springs, Westport, Nelson, Farewell Spit, Takaka, Marlborough Sounds, Blenheim, Picton, Wellington, Masterton, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Whakapapa Village, Cambridge and Auckland.
Variety – The Children’s Charity is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary in New Zealand and has distributed over $11.7 million in grants to help Kiwi kids during that time.
To make a donation to Variety to help a child in your local area, please go to www.variety.org.nz