From gold medals to gold petals – Olympic athletes collect for Daffodil Day

 

ANZ Ambassadors and gold medal rowers Eric Murray and Hamish Bond join volunteers for Cancer Society

The streets of New Zealand will be bright with colour today as volunteers, Olympic athletes, and staff from the Cancer Society, ANZ and National Banks hit the pavements with armfuls of daffodils to raise funds for the Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Day Appeal.

This year marks the 22nd Daffodil Day, the Cancer Society’s annual fundraising event to help those New Zealanders living with cancer.

Gold medal-winning rowers and ANZ Ambassadors Eric Murray and Hamish Bond will be hitting Auckland’s Queen Street first thing in the morning to hand out daffodils and collect for the appeal.

“The money raised by Daffodil Day does so much great work in communities around New Zealand, supporting people who have cancer and their families. We both feel strongly about this cause and it’s a real privilege to be able to help out,” says Eric Murray.

Olympians Emma Twigg, Natasha Hansen and Hamish Carter will also be collecting today (see details below), as will star New Zealand Netballer Temepara George.

The appeal also marks the 22nd year that National Bank (part of ANZ National) has been the principal sponsor of Daffodil Day – raising more than $14 million for the Cancer Society.

“It’s great to, again, be able to get behind Daffodil Day and the Cancer Society,” says Kerri Thompson, Managing Director for Retail of ANZ National.

"Again this year our staff are really excited. As well as selling official merchandise in branches, staff organised hundreds of different fundraising events around the country, including sausage sizzles, golf tournaments, kapa haka performances, bluff oysters, movie nights, cake stalls, hypnotists and head shaving."

Cancer Society Auckland chief executive John Loof says one in three New Zealanders will be affected by cancer.

"So many of us have a story," he says. "Daffodil Day is a time to reflect on this disease and those affected. Most of all it is all about hope.

"We don't receive any direct government funding, so Daffodil Day is a very important day for us.

ANZ National Bank Ltd, a subsidiary of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited

“We’d like to thank the National Bank and ANZ for their support – it’s one of the most enduring and well-regarded cause-related sponsorships in New Zealand.

“Together with the thousands of volunteers, and the support of local communities all around New Zealand, we know that Daffodil Day 2012 will be one of the best yet.”

For more information the Cancer Society and Daffodil Day, please see www.daffodilday.org.nz

Information about Ambassadors

Auckland

•Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, collecting outside the ANZ and National Bank

Branches, corner of Vulcan Lane and Queen Street: 8 – 9am

•Hamish Carter, collecting outside the ANZ and National Bank Branches on

Broadway, Newmarket: 8 – 9am

•Temepara George, collecting outside the ANZ, Parnell Road, Parnell: 8 – 9am
Wanaka

•Emma Twigg, collecting at Wanaka National Bank on Ardmore Street: 9 – 10am

Invercargill

•Natasha Hansen, visiting Invercargill businesses from 9am.