Ryman Healthcare has donated a ‘game changing’ $422,000 to the prostate cancer cause in New Zealand and unveiled The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ as its new charity partner.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, and the third most common cause of cancer deaths in New Zealand. There are currently 42,000 Kiwi men living with prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Dickens visited Diana Isaac Retirement Village in Christchurch today to meet residents and thank them for their efforts.
“It’s a game changer for us and we can’t thank you enough,’’ Peter Dickens said.
“The money you have raised is staggering and it means we can take our awareness campaign around the country. It’ll allows us to make a meaningful difference by creating more awareness of prostate cancer and the need for men to get regular check-ups, as early detection leads to more choices and better outcomes.’’
The $422,000 in Ryman funding has allowed the foundation to buy a dedicated ‘Man Van’ that will tour the country, including Ryman Healthcare locations.
Just as delighted was Fred Hollows Foundation chair Craig Fisher, who said Ryman’s support in the coming year was a boost for the charity.
The charity was chosen in a vote from a shortlist of three.
“We are extremely grateful to be chosen as Ryman’s new charity partner,’’ Craig Fisher said.
“The fundraising efforts of Ryman’s residents, as well as the dollar-for-dollar matching by Ryman Healthcare, will make a huge difference to the lives of people in the Pacific where 9 out of 10 people who are blind, don’t need to be as their condition is preventable or treatable.
“We want to sincerely thank Ryman’s for helping us in our work to end avoidable blindness and vision impairment in the Pacific.”
Ryman Healthcare Head of Communications and External Relations David King said Ryman’s residents had rallied to the prostate cancer cause in the past year.
“We’ve got a lot of kind-hearted and generous people and it has been a cause that has resonated with many. So we’re delighted to be able to help in this way.’’
Residents at Diana Isaac raised a record $15,000, smashing their target by 36%.
“Once again Diana Isaac is our champion fundraising village – you’re very generous. We set you what we thought was a fiendishly high target, so we’ll do the same next year,’’ David King said.
In Victoria, where Ryman has seven retirement villages, the Ryman family raised $33,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
The prostate charities are the latest in a long line to benefit from the Ryman charity partnership programme.
Ryman has donated $5.1 million to charities through its annual partnership programme since 1999.
Each year New Zealand’s largest retirement village operator selects a single cause to back, with the charity voted on by residents and team members.
For each dollar raised by residents and staff Ryman Healthcare chips in another dollar, so the more the Ryman family raise, the more the company pays.
Pictured: Head of Communications and External Relations - NZ David King, Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ board member John McFedries and Peter Dickens.
