- NZDF Raises $10k For ‘KidsCan’ Charity
Superheros
By Ally Clelland (NZDF Events Manager)
NZDF personnel have sweated, scrambled under nets, run around in the hot Afghanistan sun, dressed up in silly costumes, had fun, and raised over $10,000 for the charity ‘KidsCan’, during Telethon 09. Congratulations and “thank you very much” to everyone involved.
HQ Wellington
In Wellington, around 150 Defence personnel and members of the public attended ‘The BIG Exercise’—a military style exercise session which saw people carrying jerry cans up steps, crawling under nets, lifting weights and running in the hot sun. Entry was by donation and over $1,032 was collected.
Base Whenuapai
Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel at Whenuapai aided the cause with a 24-hour relay race, which raised over $3,000. Squadron Leader Bo Palmer said, “Over 250 personnel and their families took part. Eleven teams, including one from the Navy, ran over 3,000 kilometres in the 24 hour period. In true Telethon spirit, we had lots of fun and a number of people dressed as super heroes and villains.”
Base Woodbourne
Air Force personnel at Woodbourne raised $1,146 from muffin sales and an exercise circuit in Blenheim’s city centre.
Devonport Naval Base
Navy personnel at Devonport Naval Base raised $2,017 with a fun run along the promenade.
Burnham Military Camp
Army personnel at Burnham Military Camp donated over $600 in collection buckets at their front gate.
Base Ohakea
In Palmerston North, Air Force firefighters from Ohakea raised over $2,700 by holding a treadmill relay dressed in full fire fighting equipment and breathing apparatus, in the Downtown shopping complex.
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, members of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan ran laps around the base, raising over $1,000. Relay organiser Sergeant Simon Blakeway said, “There was a total of 46 runners including New Zealand Navy, Army and Air Force personnel, plus Singaporeans and US Army personnel. It was pretty hot, around 35 degrees in the shade. Those running between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm were exposed to temperatures probably close to 40 degrees!”