Ryman residents and staff raise $250,000 for Cancer Society

Ryman Healthcare’s residents and staff raise $250,000 for the Cancer Society

Neurological Foundation chosen as charity partner for the coming year

Ryman Healthcare’s residents and staff have raised a record $250,000 for the Cancer Society.

New Zealand’s largest retirement village operator picked the Cancer Society as its official charity partner for the 2014 year and the money was raised by residents and staff at hundreds of events around the country.

These ranged from cake stalls to quizzes and were held at the company’s 25 retirement villages from Whangarei to Invercargill. Residents and staff raised $125,000, and this has been matched dollar-for-dollar by the company.

Dalton Kelly, executive director of the Cancer Society, said his organisation was thrilled to be chosen by Ryman Healthcare as its charity partner last year.

“We are tremendously grateful for the fundraising support the Cancer Society has received through the various fundraising activities (and donations) that clients, staff and members of the public have provided and to Ryman Healthcare promoting and endorsing our cause.”

As well as raising funds Ryman also opened up its villages to the Cancer Society for educational seminars.

“We’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to engage with all its villages across New Zealand during this past year which has included delivering presentations to inform clients, staff and village guests about the free services provided by the Cancer Society and also how to reduce the risk of cancer,’’ he said.

The villages also supported the Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day flagship appeal last August and delivered the inaugural New Zealand’s Biggest Morning Tea event by hosting a morning tea at every village on May 22.

More than 4000 Ryman residents took part, raising $15,000 for the society and drinking an estimated 1000 litres of tea in the process.

Ryman Healthcare managing director Simon Challies said the society’s cause had struck a chord with residents.

“It is a record amount for us and it is all down to some extremely hard work by some big-hearted people around the country,’’ he said.

The money raised by residents and staff is matched dollar-for-dollar by Ryman’s corporate organisation.

“This seems to spur everyone along, it is nice to know we’re paying up also,’’ he said.

Ryman has picked a charity partner for the past 15 years and in that time has donated almost $2 million for various charities.

Ryman’s charity partner for the coming year is the Neurological Foundation.

The Neurological Foundation’s mission is to alleviate suffering from diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system through research and education.

“We’re confident this is a cause that will strike a chord with our residents,’’ Mr Challies said. “Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s are all diseases which affect many New Zealanders.’’

Each day Ryman’s nurses and caregivers look after hundreds of residents in its care centres with cognitive impairment including Alzheimer’s.

“The Foundation has a long and proud track record in funding and education in this area of need, and we couldn’t think of a better cause to support in the coming year,’’ Mr Challies said.

Neurological Foundation executive director Max Ritchie said the fundraising support from Ryman Healthcare’s nomination will be committed to enable the continuation of world-class neurological research in New Zealand.

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