Great Gatsby for a Great Cause

Last night I held a fundraiser at Tauranga Rialto Cinema with a special screening of The Great Gatsby.  My friend Devan helped organize the event - a big shout out for his help because I wouldn't have been able to do it all on my own.

As I mentioned in a previous post, fundraising is challenging.  It's one thing to organize a party but it's quite another to ask people to reach into their pockets and give money to someone else's cause.

I'm constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to have connections to some very big hearted, generous people in this community (and around the world).  We filled TWO cinemas selling 140 tickets.  People were turning up on the night hoping to get a seat.  It was a packed out party!

We invited the guests to get out their furs and feathers to be in to win a bottle of wine from Steve Bird Wines who generously donated 6 bottles for the occasion to use as prizes.

I was very impressed with the effort people went through.  Obviously, people just love an excuse to dress up!

Will setting up the polo match

People seemed to be having a great time.  Will and Bridget from Classic Hits FM came out to support me.  They've been absolutely brilliant at promoting my cause on the radio.  They introduced me to the crowd before the movie and Will even held a polo match for prizes!

Bridget was so inspired that she tried to get time off work to come to Africa with me!  Sadly it wasn't possible.  :(

We held a raffle for a Well-Being basket full of goodies.  Trilogy Natural Skin Care generously donated $200 worth of products, my company Magic Hands donated $160 worth of services, Flicker Candle Emporium donated $50 worth of products, She'll Be Write donated a Marie Claire cookbook, Relax Kids with Linda donated a relaxation CD for children valued at $30 and I personally donated a bottle of Brut Reserve Special Edition sparkling wine valued at $25.

The lovely Charlie selling raffle tickets

The winner of the raffle was Richard Brawn.  But watch the video and see how I magically pick another name first with my super powers.

I've known Richard for a number of years.  He comes in for massages at Magic Hands and he often brings me wood from the farm for my fire.  In fact, I've got to get more wood from him this weekend so I'll drop the basket off then. 

It was a fabulously successful night.  Tickets sales brought me $1991.00 closer to my goal.  That's pretty awesome considering I planned this event less than two months ago.

I've raised almost $2,000 on my Give-a-Little page.

And last week I was chosen as a finalist for the Wild Sister of the Year 2013 Award.  If I win, I'll be $1,000 closer to my goal.  That would take me to the half way mark.

I require approximately $15,000NZD to cover my costs for the climb, flights, donation to Ovarian Cancer, and personal gear for the expedition.

A local documentary film director has volunteered time to help spread my story.  We need funding to produce a full length documentary.

And I still have a few big items to be auctioned off.  If I can sell these at their value, I will have the full amount.

There's so much to do!  I'd better get cracking.

Less than 4 months to go!  Kilimanjaro here I come!

Same News, Different Decade

 

 Before I moved to New Zealand I was on the public speaking circuit as a key note speaker for fundraisers.  This article was written after I spoke at a school near Stratford, Ontario where Matthew shaved his head to raise money for cancer research.  I'm trying to locate the television news coverage from this event.  I have a copy of it, but it's on VHS.  

Sometimes I feel so so far away from advancements in technology.  Not to say New Zealand isn't part of the modern world but I have always felt like I've gone back in time by about 10 years.

That's the charm of living here.  Less stress.  Less consumerism.  More freedom.  More possibility.

World Ovarian Cancer Day

Today is the FIRST ever World Ovarian Cancer Day.  And because I now live in New Zealand, I get to be the first to celebrate it worldwide.

How appropriate... as I was the first to to trial the drug combinations in 1985 to help find the cure for Ovarian Cancers.  Miraculously I survived, and I'm here today to share my story and bring hope, inspiration and awareness worldwide.

Cancer is graded in stages from one to four, with stage four the most advanced. If it’s caught early (Stage 1 or 2), ovarian cancer can be cured in around 90% of cases. Once Ovarian Cancer progresses to Stage 3 or 4, the survival rate beyond 5 years is less than 20%.

Around 70% of women diagnosed with this type of cancer have reached stage three by the time it’s found.

The key is listening to your body. Massage, yoga and meditation are great ways to connect to your body. Being aware of yourself and your body gives you empowerment to take control of your health and recognize when something is not right.

Miracles happen.  Never lose hope.

Listen to the interview I did on Classic Hits 95 this morning here