Camp Quality New Zealand

Dear Rotarian

I am writing on behalf of Camp Quality New Zealand to seek your support for our unique national awareness and fundraising event - Odd Shoe Day.

We are asking Rotarians to join with other service and like-minded organisations to embrace the spirit of the event by wearing mismatched shoes either on Friday 13^th September or at a club meeting or District function around that date and to make a donation to Camp Quality in recognition.

We see ‘Odd Shoe Day’ as an easy, inexpensive and enjoyable way to introduce people to the work of Camp Quality NZ, an organisation which provides fun, hope and happiness for children battling the scourge of cancer.  Camp Quality was established in New Zealand more than 27 years ago to provide a range of support programmes for children aged 5-16 living with cancer, as well as providing year-round support to their families.

Each year during the school holiday break we organise five annual regional summer camps, at a cost of more than $600,000.  Upwards of 300 youngsters receive a week of fun in a stress-free environment, supported by hundreds of trained companions, volunteers and nursing staff providing one-on-one care in a safe environment.

These camps provide an opportunity for children who are fighting the battle with cancer a chance to recapture their childhood in a caring and supportive environment.  More than that, they offer parents and caregivers of these youngsters a brief week of normality and an opportunity to devote rare quality time to their other children.

The chairman of CQNZ, Gary Troup, is someone many Rotarians will be familiar with.  Gary represented Auckland and New Zealand at cricket during the 1970s playing around 40 Tests and ODIs for NZ, and has just stepped down as President of Auckland Cricket.  He has been an independent Trustee of Camp Quality since 2005.

You can find out more about the wonderful work of our organisation at www.campquality.org.nz

In return for your club’s support both Gary and I would be prepared to speak at clubs about Camp Quality and Odd Shoe Day.

I would be grateful if you could promote this cause through your newsletters or during your club visits and am happy to provide your members with more information/promotional material on request.  They can register their interest here: Register