Art for Asthma's Sake

12 October 2005

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All Blacks Hooker and former captain, Anton Oliver, lends his paint brush to raise monies for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand. The art lover and Dyson owner, has painted a Dyson The Ball vacuum cleaner to auction this month on www.trademe.co.nz to raise vital funds to help New Zealand children breathe better.

Anton Oliver’s autographed creation has been aptly painted on Dyson’s new DC15 ‘The Ball’ vacuum cleaner. Dyson engineers developed The Ball, an entirely new type of vacuum cleaner with a ball instead of wheels, so it freely and quickly zigzags around furniture and obstacles – much like the All Blacks’ ball skills in the recent Lions test.

The Ball is the result of dedicated research and development, taking three years to develop. Dyson believes this new machine is the biggest innovation in vacuum cleaners since their first vacuum cleaner, with no loss of suction, was launched over a decade ago.

Visit http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auction_detail.asp?id=37760500 to bid.

Jane Patterson, Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Executive Director, says funds raised from the trademe.co.nz auction will contribute to child asthma research that will improve health outcomes for the one in four children affected here in New Zealand.

“New Zealand children rank the second highest out of 56 countries for asthma symptom prevalence, with disproportionate severity among Maori children. The money will be invaluable for our work,” says Ms Patterson.

The financial and social burden of having asthma, rhinitis and eczema is enormous and includes days absent from school for children who have these conditions.

"The Foundation is grateful to Anton and Dyson’s help in advancing our understanding and knowledge of asthma, allergies, and eczema in children,"says Ms Patterson.

Brett Avery, Dyson New Zealand’s distributor and ongoing partner of the Foundation says the main objective in supporting the organisation is to promote long-term solutions and better outcomes for those with asthma and respiratory conditions, whilst raising funds for the organisation.

Oliver’s signed vacuum cleaner will be auctioned on www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auction_detail.asp?id=37760500 from today until Thursday, 20 October 2005. The Dyson DC15 The Ball’s RRP is $1099.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- One in four New Zealand children has asthma.

- Asthma is the most common cause of child hospital admissions.

- One in six New Zealanders is affected by asthma.

- New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world.

- It is estimated that asthma costs New Zealand $825 million per year in direct and indirect costs.

- 1 in every 200 deaths is due to asthma.

- It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide have asthma.

- Rates of asthma are expected to rise over the next two decades.

- Dyson is the only floorcare company in New Zealand to partner with the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of NZ (Inc.) is a non-governmental charitable organisation that provides education, information, advocacy, and research on asthma and other respiratory conditions. Please visit www.asthmanz.co.nz, or www.dyson.co.nz for information about Dyson and the DC15 The Ball.

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