FebFast challenge dares Kiwis

23 January 2012

FebFast challenge dares Kiwis

New Zealanders who say they are moderate drinkers have a chance to put their money where their mouths are, by taking up FebFast’s fun February challenge.

Most Kiwis say they drink responsibly and that they don't have to have alcohol to have a good time. FebFast 2012 dares them to prove it by signing up and going without alcohol for the shortest month of the year. Family and friends sponsor participants and funds raised go to charities working with young people affected by alcohol issues.

FebFast coordinator Catherine Milburn says the campaign isn't saying it’s bad to drink alcohol, but that it can help participants put a new spin on the challenges they set themselves at the start of a new year.

“During the summer months, and once the turkey and chocolates are gone, Kiwis set themselves all sorts of goals like getting in better shape, saving money and being more productive. Going without alcohol for 29 days is a great way to kick start each of these and it may be something many of us haven't really thought about before.”

She says many of last year’s FebFast participants said they were surprised at how much they enjoyed rising to the challenge and felt a real sense of achievement.

“A lot reported feeling healthier and fitter and said they saved money and lost weight. Some said they slept better, or felt much more alert and energetic. Some also said they felt challenged to think about how important alcohol had become to them.”

But she says there’s a lot more to FebFast than navel-gazing and enjoying a sense of personal achievement.

“Taking up the FebFast challenge is also a wonderful opportunity to benefit others who are less fortunate. A real upside is how your small sacrifice can help organisations that work with people who are addicted, or who are affected by others’ alcohol use.”

She says the most unfortunate victims of alcohol misuse are oftenyoung, and most of the charities to benefit this year have a focus on helping children and youth.

“Four charities have been chosen from main centres around the country so everyone can be sure they’re helping someone nearby.”

The recipient organisations for FebFast 2012 are:

Evolve,a free Wellington service for young people aged 10 to 25 years. Evolve provides a wide range of general health, primary care and social services to assist youth. The funding it receives from FebFast will support a new programme for brief interventions with young people around alcohol and drug use. You can read more about Evolve at www.evolveyouth.org.nz.

The ADHD Association, which educates, supports and advocates for people affected by ADHD. FebFast funding will support the development of a substance abuse educational resource for young people with ADHD. Research shows that this group are more prone to substance abuse. The DVD/study guide produced from FebFast funding will be a first in New Zealand for ADHD, and will be relevant to the many social agencies involved with this group. You can read more about the ADHD Association at www.adhd.org.nz.

Rainbow Youth, Auckland. Queer and Transgender youth are more likely to drink often and heavily, more likely to drink alone, and more likely to have had family or friends tell them to reduce their drinking. Rainbow Youth wants to change the way alcohol and drug use is viewed, and will use its FebFast funding to raise awareness of the issues, for example through the use of blogs on the www.curious.org.nz and the www.rainbowyouth.org.nz sites.

CareNZ, Waikato. Every year CareNZ helps more than 2700 people overcome addiction issues. FebFast funding will support an on-going project that follows up focus group results collected from 14 schools. This will involve raising awareness of alcohol issues, the availability of help, and the need to diminish the harm caused by youth drinking in schools. You can read more about CareNZ at www.carenz.org.nz.

ENDS
To register for FebFast or to find out more visit www.febfast.org.nz

© Scoop Media