Ford New Zealand has set a challenge – to hand out 20 grants in 20 hours to 20 deserving recipients on Thursday 11 March and Friday 12 March.
A sponsor of the Variety Bash since its inception in 1990, the “Ford Donation Drive” will commemorate the 20 years of work that Ford and Variety – The Children’s Charity have carried out with sick, disabled, and disadvantaged New Zealand children.
The donation drive will see the Ford True Blue team take their flame decaled 1963 MK III Ford Zephyr from Wellington to Masterton, distributing grants along the way.
“This year we wanted to do something extra special to celebrate our 20 year sponsorship of Variety. Staff thought a grant to mark each year of our relationship was the perfect idea – the twist is to get 20 distributed in 20 hours,” says Trevor Auger Managing Director of Ford New Zealand.
The team will travel to seven locations with grants of children’s toys, car seats, and specialist medical equipment, all made possible through hours of fundraising by Ford staff and dealers, who have raised more than $13,000.
Arriving in Wellington on Thursday 11 March, Ford team members will head to Westpac Stadium at 11.30am to gift 10 decile-one primary schools with either library or sporting packs.
Another 10 grants will be handed out to early childhood centres and individuals as the team make their way across Wellington to Masterton in the Zephyr.
At 2pm the ‘Bashers’ (as participants are known) will head to Naenae where they will visit Yusuf Guled at Dyer Street School. Yusuf, aged 10, has Downs Syndrome and Perthes Disease, affecting his hip joints and mobility. Unable to ride a regular bicycle, he will be gifted a specialised trike by Ford to enable him to exercise, providing important physical development.
The 20th grant will be given out 18 hours after the first, to Zoe Bowater of Masterton. Zoe, 13, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2007 and has since been struggling to come to grips the required multiple daily insulin injections. The Bowaters realised the freedom Zoe could enjoy through use of an insulin pump, which they can now order thanks to Ford’s True Blue Team.
“Ford New Zealand has been a passionate and enlightened sponsor of Variety since our inception in New Zealand in 1989,” says Variety CEO Lorraine Taylor. “The enthusiasm and dedication of Ford staff resulted in it being awarded a Variety International Corporate Award in 2007. Ford’s assistance has made a significant difference to the lives of sick, disabled and disadvantaged Kiwi kids over the last 20 years.”
The 2010 Variety Bash begins in Christchurch on Saturday March 6 and travels north via Westport and Farewell Spit before crossing the Cook Strait to Wellington. After Wellington, the Bash continues north through Masterton and National Park, finishing in Auckland on Sunday March 14.
