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Social media editor presses pause on alcohol
Social media editor presses pause on alcohol
Drug Foundation media release, 26 January 2011
Social media journalist Greer McDonald will be getting on the juice in February to raise money for some of New Zealand’s top youth charities.
She’s joining other well-known New Zealanders, such as chef and foodwriter Jo Seagar, singer/songwriter Maisey Rika, actor/writer Pinky Agnew and radio host Jay-Jay Feeney, in going a month without alcohol as part of the Drug Foundation’s FebFast fundraiser (www.febfast.org.nz).
FebFast has been running for several years in Australia but this is the first time it has been undertaken in New Zealand. Since 2008 more than 10,700 FebFasters have raised over $1.7 million for Australia’s youth and drug services.
Coordinator Catherine Milburn says FebFast isn't about giving up drinking forever.
“It’s about giving our bodies a short break after the festive season and raising much-needed funds for charities working with young people much less fortunate than ourselves,” she says.
And that’s something Stuff Social Media Editor Greer McDonald is happy to raise a glass of juice to.
She stopped drinking for seven weeks in the middle of last year and says the effects were immediate and dramatic.
“I love alcohol in all its forms but I thought I'd give my body and my wallet a break,” she says.
“The benefits were amazing. I saved money, found that I slept better and I didn't have a cloudy head the morning after. I just felt clearer, in control and had lots more energy.”
Greer says the amount of pressure she came under from family and friends to drink during this time was a real eye opener, and it still makes her cringe.
“People were constantly at me to drink, asking me if I was pregnant. As if being pregnant is the only reason for someone not to drink….”
She was keen to take another break from drinking this year, so was delighted when she discovered the FebFast initiative.
“Last time I gave up drinking for myself, and it was fantastic, but FebFast is a way of doing that and also making a contribution to community groups that are really making a difference in people’s lives,” she says.
“It feels like a really positive thing to do.”
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