Camp Quality’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations

Media Release
22 November 2010

Camp Quality’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations in New Zealand come to a Successful Close

Camp Quality has brought its 25th Anniversary Celebrations to a close with a Jubilee Ball in Hamilton and a ‘Picnic in the Park’ in Auckland last weekend.

During 2010 Camp Quality NZ, a not for profit, volunteer organisation, marked its 25th year of providing week-long summer camps and year-round support to children living with cancer.

The first New Zealand camp was held in West Auckland in January 1985 and attracted 22 youngsters from throughout New Zealand. Now around 300 youngsters attend one of five regional summer camps nationwide with more than 700 volunteers, helping to make the camps a safe and fun environment.

A number of events took place around the country to mark 25 years of Camp Quality in each region. They included a Masquerade Ball in Auckland, a ‘Living Billboard’ in Dunedin, a Truck Show at Ruapuna Raceway near Christchurch and the main 25th Anniversary Dinner in Christchurch attended by the Minister of Labour, Hon Kate Wilkinson, which also featured the founder of Camp Quality International, Vera Entwistle from Australia.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty region Jubilee Ball at Waikato Stadium was attended by around 100 campers, volunteers and friends. The event was seen as a way to bring back long-time campers and volunteers, and even attracted one of Camp Quality’s long-term major transport supporters.

The Auckland/Northland region ‘Picnic in the Park’ at Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden attracted 300 former Camp Quality campers, volunteers and staff and the cook from the first camp at West Auckland in 1985.

Camp Quality NZ Chairman Ivan Lawson says the various celebration events held throughout New Zealand have served as “a great way to lift our profile at a regional and national level and also bring together many of our former campers, companions and volunteers. It was a great way for us to celebrate the last 25 years and to thank those who have helped us get to where we are today,” he says. “And now the focus goes on trying to do even more for children living with cancer, and their families over the years.”

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.

Ends

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