Major fundraising ends with a happy new car owner

12 August
Immediate Release
 
Major fundraising effort ends with a happy new car owner

The Child Cancer Foundation Wheels of Courage Prize Draw officially came to a close this week with the announcement of the winner of the Wheels of Courage Hyundai Santa Fe. Over the course of the 2009 Appeal Week and the Wheels of Courage campaign, Hyundai helped to raise over $600,000.

The Santa Fe, donated by CCF partner Hyundai New Zealand, has been traveling the length of the country since March this year. Stopping in towns along the way to fundraise, meet families and raise awareness for the charity.

Every person who supported the campaign by buying a $10 supporters bead had a chance to win the Wheels of Courage Santa Fe. CCF and Hyundai New Zealand are pleased to announce the winner was Gretchen Cordner from the North Shore in Auckland.

Mrs Cordner said: “I couldn’t believe it when I heard I’d won, I never win anything so this has been the biggest and most exciting surprise!”

“We are pleased with how the campaign has run this year; it’s been a mammoth effort by everyone involved – our staff, our dealers and customers.” Said Philip Eustace, Executive Director Hyundai New Zealand.

"We had fundraising teams and buckets out at every place possible – from our Fieldays stand to all the Young Farmer Contests to our Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour back in summer. Over the last two years we have helped raise over $2 million for children with cancer and their families.

As a New Zealand owned and operated company we are proud to be involved with CCF and think it’s important to contribute to this great New Zealand cause.”

Neil Porteous, CEO of the Child Cancer Foundation said,

“The offer of a new Santa Fe to use as a prize was an extremely generous offer by Hyundai New Zealand.  The prize, together with the buzz created across New Zealand with our visits to the Hyundai dealers, was a major factor in our ability to run our most successful appeal ever in 2009.

We are truly grateful for Hyundai’s generosity to the Foundation as we help ensure that no child or their family walking the child cancer journey should ever feel alone.”

As the car travelled through New Zealand it stopped at Hyundai dealerships collecting the names of children with cancer and the number of beads they have accumulated during treatment.

The children were invited to select and sign their favourite bead to decorate the car. The Wheels of Courage car symbolises and acknowledges the brave journey of these children and proudly displays their courage.

The tour began in Tauranga travelling through the country to Dunedin, finally finishing in Auckland and included a celebrity run where famous faces such as Tina Cross, Jackie Clarke and Scribe - to name a few - came on board to help out.

Hyundai New Zealand has been supporting the Child Cancer Foundation since October 2006 and along the way have helped many children with cancer and their families with extensive financial, emotional and vehicle support.

ENDS

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