CAPTION: Helicopter caption: Students from Pukekohe Intermediate camped out on Motuihe Island over Famine weekend - with supplies flown in by the Navy's Seasprite.

16 April, 2003

Famine income looking good

World Vision's 40 Hour Famine income for this year is already at $1,122,116.61 - $281,200 ahead of last year's amount at the same time.

Helen Green, CEO of World Vision New Zealand, says it's a pleasing interim result for the Famine and bodes well for the final total.

"This is a 33 percent increase on last year, so we're hoping for a record this year," she said. "Last year we were hampered by a short first term, with an early Easter, and that made it difficult for students to get their money in on time before the holidays. This year we've had an extra eight days before the holidays, and that seems to have made a big difference in terms of collecting the money and getting it banked."

Mrs Green says a lot of the credit must go to Famine organisers, volunteers and teachers, who ensure the money is collected efficiently and banked safely. "This is a huge event in New Zealand ? the largest youth fundraising event in the country ? and its success is due in large part to the volunteers and school staff, as well as senior students who run the 40 Hour Famine in their schools."

Registrations were also up this year, with 150,000 Famine packs sent out. Last year an estimated 130,000 people did the 40 Hour Famine.

Last year's 40 Hour Famine raised $2.44 million and the record was set in 2001 with $2,566,277. Helen Green says that money translates into saving the lives of thousands of children, many the same age as those New Zealand young people who went without food for 40 hours in March. "It's not just raising the money that's exciting, it's knowing that that money is going to free hundreds of children in bonded labour in India and Bangladesh. It's also going to help with relief aid in Iraq, and with street children in Cambodia and Mongolia."

For further information, contact Liz MacIntyre on 09 356 0718 or 021 643 619.

Liz MacIntyre, Communications Manager, WVNZ, 17 George Street, Newmarket. Private Bag 92078, Auckland. Phone: (09) 356 0718 Mobile: (021) 643 619 Fax: (09) 309 3166 elizabeth.macintyre@worldvision.org.nz

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