Awesome New Zealanders give up booze for Feb

Awesome New Zealanders give up booze for Feb

A star-studded line up of awesome New Zealanders are supporting febfast by giving up booze during February.

Febfast challenges New Zealanders to give up alcohol for the month of February to raise money in support of young people with alcohol and other drug problems.

Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker said febfast was a cool concept that would get people to step back and take a look at their lives with alcohol.

“The culture growing up was that it was cool to go out and drink, but the worst part was it was cool to go out and drink so much that you can't remember the next day,” Ms Walker said.

“I won't be able to change the whole nation, but if everyone works together then it is a start. And you have to start somewhere when you're battling a culture.”

The Block NZ winner Ben Crawford loves a challenge and thinks febfast will help him meet his fitness goals but might be a challenge for dating.

“I've got some strong goals with what I want to achieve, and obviously alcohol is not the best thing to have in the regime,” Mr Crawford said.

“I'll probably have to be quite creative on dates as well. It's pretty easy to say 'hey, let's go for a drink’. But now I'm going to have to think of something quite creative. Romantic even.”

Check out a video of Ben Crawford talking about why he’s doing febfast here: http://youtu.be/VobfMMBOlz4

The man who puts the “Jono” into “Jono and Ben at 10”, Jono Pryor, said it had probably been years since he hadn't had a drink so febfast will be a good challenge.

“I'm thinking I'll feel a lot better and healthier,” Mr Pryor said.

“The hardest thing about doing febfast will be in social situations, especially at parties and barbecues and things where alcohol tends to be flowing.”

“My plan is to go to these things and probably not go for as long as I usually would go. A shorter period of time, lots of orange juice and driving there would be the key as well.”

Ace editor of the Healthy Food Guide Niki Bezzant really loves the idea that febfast is about supporting young people and about making them think about their drinking.

“It really concerns me that we've got this culture that young women are growing up with. And if I can get the message across that you really don't have to drink to excess and you don't have to drink to get drunk, that would be really good,” Ms Bezzant said.

“Alcohol doesn't need to be an intrinsic part of your enjoyment of going out for an evening.”

Other awesome ambassadors include Christchurch City Councillor Jamie Gough, New Zealand’s funniest person Guy Williams, rugby player Scott Waldrom, songstress Maisey Rika, media personality Hamish Coleman-Ross, National MP Dr Jackie Blue, Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway, and Green MP and Co-leader Metiria Turei.

People who want to take up the febfast challenge with Sarah, Ben, Jono, and Niki can register at www.febfast.org.nz or check out the facebook page at www.facebook.com/febfastnewzealand.

Febfast Ambassadors
Sarah Walker — New Zealand Olympic medal winner, BMX rider
Ben Crawford — Winner of The Block NZ and Creative brand builder
Jono Pryor — Radio host, co-host of Jono and Ben at 10, Husband, father, pasty, bald
Jamie Gough — Christchurch City COuncillor and all-round cool guy
Scott Waldrom — Rugby Player for Taranaki and the Chiefs
Guy Williams — Comedian, Writer, TV Personality.
Niki Bezzant — Editor of the Health Food Guide, Sunday Star Times Columnist, food lover.
Maisey Rika — Songstress, APRA nominated, and Waiata Maori Music Award Winner
Hamish Coleman-Ross — RadioLIVE producer and host, media mercenary
Dr Jackie Blue — National Party list MP
Iain Lees-Galloway — Labour MP for Palmerston North
Metiria Turei — MP and Co-leader for the Green Party.
Full bios and links to their fundraising pages are here: http://nzdrug.org/febfastambassadors

Febfast facts
• 2013 will be the third year the Drug Foundation has run febfast in New Zealand.
• In 2011 febfast raised $107,175 and $107,714 in 2012
• In 2012 over 650 people participated.
• The money raised in 2012 went towards supporting youth alcohol and other drug services across New Zealand.
• The money raised in 2013 will go towards redeveloping the Get the MSG! text information service. More info on Get the MSG is here http://nzdrug.org/febfastfunds
• We have an app! iPhones: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/febfast-nz/id581387020?mt=8 Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.artez.febfestnz#?t=W10

ENDS

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