Gold Heart Day Proceeds To Fund Special Wheelchair Swings

The annual Variety Gold Heart appeal starts this coming Tuesday (8 February). The proceeds from this year’s appeal will be used to fund a new initiative- the Variety Liberty Swing programme which will be launched on February 10 in Auckland.

The Variety Liberty Swing is designed for use by children confined to a wheelchair. The swing gives these children the opportunity to experience the thrill of a playground swing without the need to leave their wheelchairs.

Variety –The Children’s Charity Chief Executive, Elisa Willman, said that the programme aims to install a Variety Liberty Swing in every local authority area in New Zealand.

“The Swings will be placed in prominent positions in popular parks, gardens and children’s play areas,” said Willman. “The Variety Swing programme in Australia has been very successful. Children respond incredibly well to the freedom of being in a swing. Sometimes it is a completely new experience for them. We hope the Variety Liberty Swing will soon be a familiar sight in playgrounds around New Zealand.”

The first New Zealand Variety Liberty Swing will be presented to Auckland City on 10 February, in Rocket Park, thanks to Variety Gold Heart sponsors, a grant by Trillian Trust, The Auckland City Council and Variety. Students from special needs schools will being the first official Variety Liberty Swing users in Auckland.

2. GOLD HEART DAY PROCEEDS TO FUND SPECIAL WHEELCHAIR SWINGS

The Gold Heart Appeal is Variety’s largest public appeal of the year. This year there will be no street appeal. People will be asked to make a gold coin donation at participating retail outlets. Participating companies include: Countdown (title sponsor) , The Warehouse, Hoyts Cinemas, Village Skycity Cinemas, Flight Centre, Westfield, ASB Bank.
Gold hearts will also be sold in all Westfield Centres throughout the country on Sat 12 Feb.

Gold Heart Day is the signature international fundraiser for Variety - The Children’s Charity. Variety was established in New Zealand in1989 and has distributed millions of dollars to children and community groups nationwide. Funds raised in New Zealand will stay in New Zealand to assist children in our communities.

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