Join Jax to Bake a Difference this Blind Week

Jax Hamilton is calling all enthusiastic bakers, from the novice to the professional, to join her to ‘Bake a Difference’ for Blind Week this October and raise essential funds for the more than 11,500 blind and partially sighted members of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB).

Bake a Difference, which runs throughout Blind Week from Tuesday 25 to Monday 31 October, is a new, nationwide event in which the RNZFB is asking its volunteers and supporters to bake delicious goodies and sell them to friends, family, workmates or others for a gold coin donation.

Funds raised will enable the RNZFB to continue to provide its members with the full range of skills, tools and resources they need to overcome the challenges of sight loss and lead independent lives.

As a Masterchef finalist, Jax knows all about what it’s like to overcome a challenge, which is what inspired her to lend support to this year’s Blind Week appeal.

“Blind and partially sighted people have to deal with difficulties on a daily basis, so if I can do anything to help make those obstacles easier, I’m absolutely going to do it.

“If I was suddenly left without sight, I’d like to know that I could learn ways to continue cooking – as food is my life – and that’s what I’ve learned the RNZFB can do for its members, among so many other great things,” says Jax.

To sign up as a baker for Bake a Difference, or to find out more, visit bakeadifference.org.nz, check us out on Facebook.com/RNZFB, or call 0800 120 BLIND (0800 120 254).

To simply make a donation, phone 0800 DONATE (0800 366 283) or visit blindweek.org.nz

• Blind Week 2011 runs from Tuesday 25 October until Monday 31 October.
• The RNZFB is New Zealand’s main provider of sight loss services to blind and partially sighted people.
• We have more than 11,500 blind and partially sighted members nationwide and each year nearly 1,100 New Zealanders who have become blind or experienced serious sight loss register as RNZFB members.
• Only one-third of our operating budget comes from Government sources, so our members rely on public support for the rest.
• The RNZFB aim to raise $700,000 from Blind Week 2011. Funds raised will enable us to continue providing our blind and partially sighted members with the full range of skills, tools and resources they need to lead independent lives.

Ideas for how to Bake a Difference:

• Bake muffins, scones or a cake and place your edible wares in the office kitchen to tempt co-workers in exchange for a donation.

• Host a gold coin coffee and cake morning with friends.

• Bake a supper for your next community group or club meeting and ask attendees for a donation (don’t forget to advertise first!).

• Make a big batch of homemade fudge and sell packages to colleagues, friends and family.