infonews.co.nz
INDEX
FUNDRAISER

Big Brothers Big Sisters to launch in Auckland with the help of BIG BOOTCAMP

Wednesday 26 October 2011, 8:23PM

By Les Mills International

322 views

AUCKLAND

Les Mills is about to kick off its fourth annual charity bootcamp, which this year aims to raise $100,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of New Zealand through the 2011 BIG BOOTCAMP.

BBBS is the world’s leading youth mentoring programme, matching vulnerable children and teens with a positive adult mentor from outside the family. Despite having a successful presence in 13 locations across New Zealand, BBBS has never been able to establish in Auckland, due to the cost of doing so. Globally, the charity was established more than 100 years ago and helps around 300,000 children worldwide in need every year.

Minister for Social Development, Employment and Youth Affairs, Paula Bennett, comments, “I’ve had the privilege of seeing Big Brothers Big Sisters in action first hand and am fully supportive of bringing this much-needed charity to our country’s biggest city. I encourage all New Zealanders to get behind BIG BOOTCAMP to help make a difference for Kiwi kids.”

Reece Zondag, CEO of Les Mills, says, “Les Mills Charity Bootcamp has a proven track record of raising significant funds for its charity of choice. The people who participate have an amazing time, raise money for a good cause and get fit in the process.

“We’re really excited to have around 140 people participating this year including some well-known faces like Miriama Smith and Carol Hirschfeld.”

BIG BOOTCAMP participants train three times a week, military-style with a twist, for four weeks in teams. Teams compete against each other (and their own willpower) while raising money for BBBS through individual online fundraising pages.

National Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand, Dave Marshall, adds, “We’ve been trying to get Big Brothers Big Sisters going in Auckland for almost 13 years now, but the market is so big and competitive that the task was always a bit beyond our reach. We are delighted to be the recipient charity for this year’s Les Mills Charity Bootcamp which has a reputation for raising significant funds for the charity it partners with.”

As the country’s largest city, Auckland has a high proportion of children living on or below the poverty line, and BBBS receives countless requests from parents and caregivers in Auckland who know a child who would benefit from having a Big Brother or Big Sister. BBBS has been working with local police in Auckland to establish a strong partnership and will begin its school-based programme once the relationships have been established during the first few years of operation.

BIG BOOTCAMP kicks off on 31 October and runs until 25 November 2011.

http://www.everydayhero.co.nz/event/lesmillscharitybootcamp – online fundraising site for BIG BOOTCAMP

www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz – Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand site

www.bbbs.org – Big Brothers Big Sisters global site