FebFast participants Marijke Preston and Eloise MacLeod say giving up alcohol for a month has been easier than expected.

They’re among the nearly one thousand New Zealanders taking part in the Drug Foundation’s FebFast fundraiser, which involves stopping drinking during all of February to raise money for four of the country’s top youth charities.

So far more than $64,000 has been raised in online donations and sponsorships at www.febfast.org.nz.

Twenty-eight-year-old Marijke Preston, who works in a Wellington design agency, says the hardest thing about giving up drinking for FebFast has been dealing with comments from others.

“I spent a fair bit of time before FebFast started having heated discussions with friends and co-workers about why I'm doing it,” she says.

“I've been surprised at how some people have poked fun at me. For instance, I went to a friend’s wedding and when the guy I was sitting next to found out I wasn't drinking, he said he wanted to sit next to someone more interesting. I said to him: ‘So you’re telling me I'm not interesting unless I’m drinking?’ There’s been a bit of that.”

Miss Preston says she is not usually a big drinker but does enjoy a glass or two of wine most evenings. She hasn't noticed any physical changes as a result of not drinking in the first fortnight of FebFast but says her weekends have become more productive.

Another Wellington FebFaster, 27-year-old Eloise MacLeod, says she has missed drinking alcohol but not as much as she expected.

“At weekends we'd normally have a barbecue and some drinks with friends,” she says.

“My husband’s not drinking during FebFast either so last weekend we went out for dinner on our own, went to the movies, a walk in the sun the next day and then spent the rest of the weekend packing for our house move. So we did lots of interesting things that didn't involve drinking alcohol, and it was great.”

Mrs MacLeod says she’s doing more in the weekends, instead of sleeping in and feeling lethargic. She has also noticed some financial benefits as she and her husband were able to drive their car into the city for their night out, knowing they would return home sober, instead of paying for a taxi to get home.

“I'll definitely do this again next year. It’s a great cause and I really like the fact my body’s having a bit of a detox.”

FebFast coordinator Catherine Milburn says she’s delighted with the number of people participating in FebFast.

“People have really embraced the idea of giving community organisations a helping hand while pressing pause on drinking for a month,” she says.

“We’re halfway through the month and lots of FebFasters are telling us they've been tempted a few times but are determined to stay alcohol-free right to the end. They’re having fun, and for many of them it’s proving easier than they thought it would be.

“There’s still time to sign up and make donations – we'll accept donations and sponsorships right up till the end of March.”

FebFast has proven popular in Australia, raising more than $1.7 million in the past few years, but it is the first time the fundraiser has been undertaken in New Zealand.

A number of well-known New Zealanders are endorsing the event, including teams of Labour and National MPs, ZM host Polly Gillespie, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, chef/food writer Jo Seagar, actor/writer Pinky Agnew, singer Maisey Rika, TV3 journalists Mike McRoberts and Paula Penfold, social media editor Greer McDonald, and The Edge radio hosts Jay-Jay Feeney and Dominic Harvey.

The money raised will go to youth charities Amplify (Auckland), He Taumata Toa/Growing Champions (Wellington), He Haerenga O Wananga/Adventure Therapy (Christchurch), and Whakaata Tohu Tohu /Mirror Counselling Services (Dunedin).

ENDS

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