Media Release
18 August, 2017
Cancer Society needs help this Daffodil Day
The Cancer Society’s annual flagship event Daffodil Day – one of the most iconic fundraising and cancer awareness events in New Zealand – falls this year on Friday, 25 August.
Over the years, the Cancer Society has seen progress both preventing and treating cancer, however, more people are still being diagnosed in New Zealand each year, and greatersupport is needed right across the country.
“There are over 22,000 Kiwis getting diagnosed with cancereach year,and it’s slowly increasing” says Daniel Glover, the Cancer Society of New Zealand Communications and Marketing Manager.
But there is hope – treatments are getting better, and research is providing results each year. More people are surviving cancer than ever before and this is a direct result of the community’s support to raise funds that are used for research.
“When people ask if the money they are donating actually makes a difference, we can say absolutely. But we still have a long way to go, so the research is vitally important.
“From research funded byDaffodil Day donations, we areseeing results innew breakthrough immunotherapy drugs and treatments,which are now available both in New Zealand and around the World,” commented Glover.
“Research is crucially important, but we also provide a range of support services locally right across the country, including: information, health promotion and education programmes to reduce cancer risk, awareness campaigns and programmes” said Glover.
Now in its 27th year, Daffodil Day raises awareness of cancer and is the biggest generator of funds for the Cancer Society. The daffodil is one of the first flowers of the spring season and with its bright yellow bloom represents hope for the one in three New Zealanders affected by cancer each year.
ANZ has been the principal sponsor of Daffodil Day since the event began.
Donations received will go towards vital research into better ways to detect, treat and reduce all types of cancers. They will also fund a range of support services, information booklets and health promotion activities.
People wanting to support the Cancer Society can do so by donating directly with a street collector, at any ANZ branch, or online at daffodilday.org.nz.
ENDS
For more information, contact:
Daniel Glover
Communications and Marketing Manager
Cancer Society of New Zealand
0212439343
Further information
Daffodil Day
- The Cancer Society’s annual flagship event Daffodil Day is Friday, 25 August.
- Daffodil Day raises awareness of cancer and is the biggest generator of funds for the Cancer Society.
- The daffodil is one of the first flowers of the spring season and with its bright yellow bloom represents hope for the one in three New Zealanders affected by cancer each year.
- The Cancer Society have over half a million daffodils to give on Daffodil Day in return for donations.
- ANZ Bank has been the principal sponsor of Daffodil Day since the event began 27 years ago.
- Donations received will go towards:
- vital research into the causes and treatment of all types of cancer
- providing a range of support services, information booklets, health promotion and education programmes to reduce cancer risk, awareness campaigns and programmes for people affected by cancers.
- People can donate:
- by donating to street collectors
- at any ANZ branch
- online at daffodilday.org.nz
The Cancer Society
The Cancer Societyreceives no direct government funding and relies on donations and sponsorships.
Over 9,000 people volunteer each year for the Cancer Society, over 3,500 of them regularly!
Since the service began in 2007, the Cancer Society’s free information helpline (0800 CANCER) has had over 90,000 calls, and its staff of cancer nurses havespent over 4,200 hours providing support and advice to New Zealanders affected by cancer.
The Cancer Society provides accommodation close to all major hospitals in New Zealand, and last year it provided 62,395 bed nights.
Donations help fund the Cancer Society’s services such as petrol for the volunteer driving service available to cancer patients in New Zealand. Last year, Cancer Society volunteers drove over 1 million kilometres getting patients to treatment (1,131,191 kilometres to be precise). They made 19,634 trips and transported 2,826 patients.
Daffodil Day has been the Cancer Society’s biggest fundraiser for over 27 years nationally, and ANZ has been its Principal Sponsor from the start.
People wanting to donate to progress the research and support those affected by cancer can do so by donating directly with a street collector, at any ANZ branch, or online at daffodilday.org.nz.