Halberg partners with Flight Centre Foundation

MEDIA RELEASE

29 August 2014
HALBERG PARTNERS WITH FLIGHT CENTRE FOUNDATION TO ‘HANG 10’
Surf events to be held over summer for physically disabled young Kiwis

The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation is pleased to announce a partnership with the Flight Centre Foundation for a series of five surfing events being held this summer around the country for physically disabled young people.

The Flight Centre Foundation Halberg Surf Programme will give physically disabled young New Zealanders the opportunity to experience the thrill of surfing at a series of beach events in Northland, Mt Maunganui, Taranaki, Christchurch and Dunedin during November 2014 to February 2015.

The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation will work with Surfing New Zealand, surf clubs and local schools to provide training and adaptive equipment so that physically disabled young people can have a go at surfing at the beach events and provide ongoing opportunities in the sport.

New Zealand’s largest travel retailer, Flight Centre, established its Foundation in 2013 to give back to local communities across the country. Its support of the Flight Centre Foundation Halberg Surf Programme includes the essential funding required to produce the events and will also see some of its 1,200 staff across the country participate in the training and volunteering at each beach event.

The Flight Centre Foundation is also donating adaptive equipment to each surf club involved in the programme to ensure they can offer ongoing events and support for physically disabled young Kiwis interested in surfing. The type of equipment includes an adjustable beach wheelchair – which is able to traverse beaches and roll straight into the water.

James Sanders, chairman of the Flight Centre Foundation, says this is a great opportunity to give back to local New Zealand communities and offer young Kiwis an amazing experience.

“This will provide these kids with a whole new set of skills and experiences, and for some, it may even be the start of an ongoing interest in sport. It’s also an extremely exciting opportunity for our staff to give back locally, to children who rarely get the opportunity to participate in these types of activities.”

Geoff Burgess, CEO of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation is particularly pleased to welcome the Flight Centre Foundation as the partnership will extend the organisations’ important disability sport work around the country.

“As Kiwis, being able to experience the joys of our beautiful beaches is something we all feel entitled to. Our surf programme will be an exciting learning journey for the Flight Centre team and the surf clubs involved – opening the way for more physically disabled young people to experience the thrill of catching wave. We are delighted that the Flight Centre Foundation shares our goal – enhancing lives through sport.”

Flight Centre Foundation Halberg Surf Programme beach events
• Tutukaka beach, Northland, Saturday 29 November 2014
• Mt Maunganui beach, Mt Maunganui Saturday 13 December 2014
• Oakura beach, Taranaki, Saturday 31 January 2015
• Sumner beach, Christchurch, Saturday 28 February 2015
• St Clair beach, Dunedin, Sunday 1 March 2015
Full event details will be listed at www.halbergallsports.co.nz

About the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation
The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation is a charity that was founded by Sir Murray Halberg in 1963 on the belief that all New Zealanders should have access to sports – with no exceptions. The Foundation has worked tirelessly to make Sir Murray's vision a reality and now employs Disability Sport Advisers around the country who connect physically disabled people to sport and recreation opportunities in schools, clubs and in their communities as well as providing grants for adaptive sports equipment. www.halberg.co.nz

About the Flight Centre Foundation
The Flight Centre Foundation forms the heart of Flight Centre New Zealand Limited’s corporate and social responsibility platform. The vision is for the foundation to become one of the leading corporate-based foundations in New Zealand, maximizing the collective good that we can deliver to our communities via the charities that we will support.

The purpose of the foundation is ‘To open up the world to provide a better future.’ For our people this means an opportunity to contribute and make a difference. For our charity partners, this means to support and provide awareness and, through our help, to achieve their goals.

ENDS

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