Joseph Parker puts weight behind the Middlemore Foundation

Boxing star Joseph Parker, who grew up in Mangere, is putting his (heavy)weight behind the work of the Middlemore Foundation.

He’s signed on as an Ambassador for the Foundation, which partners with communities to raise funds to initiate and support key projects in health, homes and education within Counties Manukau.

“I had a lot of fun growing up in South Auckland and I love the work the Middlemore Foundation is doing in the community so I wanted to jump on board and support a good cause,” says Joseph. “I want to make South Auckland better for my kids, for their future and all the other kids who live here.”

South Auckland is home to 13% of Kiwi children, making it the nation’s youngest region. About 40% of its residents were born overseas and the area is core to New Zealand’s bicultural and multicultural identity, with 12% of tangata whenua, a third of the country’s Pacific people and a fifth of the Asian population calling South Auckland home.

Joseph’s first ambassadorial duties included visits to Edmund Hillary School and Red Hill Primary School, both in Papakura, where the kids chatted excitedly with their ‘local hero’ about his boxing career and asked him about his time growing up in their neighbourhood. Joseph’s effortless rapport with the kids is evident in videos of the school visits and, at one point, he even tests his strength by performing some easy bicep curls using giggling kids as weights.

Joseph has also been involved in supporting the Mana-ā-Riki programme which focuses on education, health and whānau capability.

And he has close family connections to Middlemore Hospital; his mum worked at the hospital for five years as a ward clerk and his younger brother John was born there (and ended up in Middlemore quite often with various injuries from his youthful exploits). His grandparents also spent time in the hospital during various illnesses.

Joseph’s sister, Elizabeth Fuavao, says the family’s ties to Middlemore stretch back over generations. “All of these events, injuries, stays covered many years. We have a strong family and community base in Mangere, so Middlemore Hospital is our hospital."

Joseph agrees and says: “It’s an integral part of our community and holds a lot of memories - sad memories of loved ones being unwell or suffering injuries, but also happy memories of times spent together with family and of awesome doctors, nurses and staff who take good care of our loved ones.”

Middlemore Foundation chief executive Sandra Geange says the organisation is delighted to have Joseph on board as an ambassador.

“He is much-loved and so well-known in South Auckland. And, with so many long-standing and deep connections to Middlemore, he was the ideal choice to join us. Joseph has really thrown himself into our work, getting out into the schools and community and had even filmed some cool videos with us.”

See the videos here: www.middlemorefoundation.org.nz/news/joseph-parker

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