Truck Show to Mark Camp Quality 25th Anniversary

Media Release
24 August 2010

Truck Show to Mark Camp Quality 25th Anniversary Celebrations in Christchurch

The revving of truck engines and screeching of tyres at Ruapuna Raceway will be heard from miles around next month – all in the aid of a good cause.

The Christchurch region of Camp Quality NZ is staging a Truck Show and Picnic at Ruapuna Raceway on Sunday September 19 as its keynote event to mark the 25th anniversary of Camp Quality providing summer camps and year-round support to children living with cancer and their families in New Zealand.

Camp Quality NZ, a not for profit, volunteer organisation, is marking its 25th year of providing week-long summer camps and year-round support to children living with cancer. The first camp was held in West Auckland in January 1985 and attracted 22 youngsters from throughout New Zealand. Now more than 300 youngsters aged 6-16 attend one of five regional summer camps nationwide.

The Truck Show is one of a number of events taking place around the country to mark 25 years of Camp Quality in each region. They include a Masquerade Ball in Auckland, a ‘Living Billboard’ in Dunedin, a Jubilee Ball in Hamilton and a 25th Anniversary Dinner in Christchurch in October.

There will be entertainment like hot laps in the trucks, fast cars and trikes as well as a ‘Show ‘n’ Shine’ competition with trophies going to the winners of the categories Distance Travelled, Best Fleet, Judges Choice and the Supreme Winner which will be voted for by the campers. Food will be supplied by Ruapuna’s local vendor and there will also be celebratory cutting of the ‘25th Anniversary cake’ provided by Camp Quality. A gold coin collection will see proceeds going to Camp Quality.

Organiser Richard Johnston says “the event is to celebrate the 25th anniversary in style, offering the campers, companions and all volunteers involved a chance to experience something they wouldn’t normally be able to.” A member of Camp Quality for thirteen years, Richard organises the transport for the youngsters to and from the summer camps. “It gets a bit boring always using a bus, so over the years we have arranged hot rods, big trucks and other cool cars to keep up the excitement of the camp from start to finish,” he says.

Camp Quality Chairman Jim Grierson says that each year, at a cost of more than $550,000, and with the support of more than 750 volunteers, “we deliver week-long summer camps and fun activities for children living with cancer. The goal of the camps is to provide the campers with fun experiences, comradeship and achievable challenges, to encourage them to focus on the positive aspects of their lives.”
This year marks 25 years since the first summer camp in New Zealand. The Christchurch Trucking Show is part of a series of events nationwide to celebrate the silver anniversary

According to Child Cancer Foundation statistics, about 150 young New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year. Camp Quality passionately believes in the power of fun to help these children and their families overcome the challenges of living with cancer.

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