Community partnership takes flight
Community partnership takes flight
The most
visible part of Valley Flyer's community partnership with
the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, announced in
September, was launched today – a striking, new-look bus
which will help raise awareness of the Institute’s
life-changing work.
“Public transport is about
providing a service to communities,” says Matthew Lear,
General Manager of Valley Flyer. “We further believe
that our buses should reflect those communities,
particularly the things that are important to
them.”
The Gillies McIndoe Research Institute
will conduct research into reconstructive plastic surgery,
helping change the lives of people living with disfiguring
and sometimes life threatening medical
conditions.
“The Institute’s research will have
the very real result of improving people’s lives,” says
Mr Lear. “Its contribution to the Hutt Valley community
will be huge and we are thrilled to be able to support them
and to include them among the wider company’s community
partnerships.”
Dr Colin Calcinai, Chair of the
Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Research Foundation, the body
behind the Institute project is delighted with the support
Valley Flyer is providing.
“It is absolutely
vital that we achieve profile for our campaign to raise the
funds and the awareness necessary to establish the Gillies
McIndoe Research Institute,” says Dr Calcinai. “This
bus will be a travelling billboard for our cause for two
years in the Hutt Valley and our message will reach
thousands of people as a result. We are delighted with the
extra coverage and publicity this unique form of promotion
will bring us.”
The butterfly is the symbol of
the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute. It is
representative of the positive physical and psychological
changes patients undergo through reconstructive
surgery.
Butterflies were chosen for special
treatment on the bus. And, the winner of the Valley Flyer
‘design-a-butterfly’ competition was announced at the
launch. Jutta Chisholm, a Hutt Valley resident, will see
her butterfly design displayed inside the bus. She also
won $1000 and three months’ free travel on all Valley
Flyer services.
Jutta had never heard of the Gillies
McIndoe Research Institute before she entered the
competition.
“Since I entered the competition, I
have found out many more things about what Gillies McIndoe
does – I have heard some really lovely stories of how they
have helped many children,” says Jutta.
Ten
runner-up entries were also chosen to feature on the bus
with each receiving a Snapper card loaded with $50. To
find out about the winners, go to
www.valleyflyer.co.nz.
Matthew Lear was delighted
with the response received from the
competition.
“Our goal was to get the public
involved in the design of the new bus and with over 1000
entries received for the competition; it’s clear the Hutt
Valley people really took it to heart!” says Mr
Lear.
The Valley Flyer – Gillies McIndoe Research
Institute bus will be seen on the Streets of the Hutt Valley
and Wellington from
today.
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