Cancer Society volunteers win Health Volunteer of year

Media Release

Tuesday 23rd June 2015

Cancer Society of New Zealand volunteers win Health Volunteer of the Year Award

The Cancer Society of New Zealand would like to congratulate its volunteers on their wonderful success at the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards. Cancer Society volunteers took home three awards, including the Health Volunteer of the Year Award, in a ceremony held in Parliament on Monday.

Coinciding with National Volunteer Week, the Awards celebrate the unsung heroes who support New Zealand’s health and disability services. The student group, Cancer Core, received the major award of the night – Health Volunteer of the Year. It was recognition of the students’ hard work organising the University of Otago Relay for Life, an overnight fundraising event, which galvanised students and collectively raised $60,000 for the Cancer Society.

The Cancer Society’s Otago Southland CEO, Mike Kernaghan, says, “The challenges around staging such an event would test the most capable event manager, yet here we had a group of young students who just made it happen through sheer hard work and commitment … They exemplified a passion for giving back to the community and showed to the 1000+ people at the event, the importance of compassion and connection between people. They are outstanding role models.”

Claire Austin, CEO of the Cancer Society’s National Office also praised the students, “It’s fantastic recognition of the huge commitment Otago students have made to an important cause. Their work shows that our future is in great hands”

The night was also a success for Cancer Society Oncology Support Volunteers who won the award for Volunteers in a Community or NGO Health Service. The volunteers work alongside medical professionals in regional hospitals throughout the country. The care and kindness they provide to cancer patients is invaluable to those who are facing difficult times.

This is the third year the Minister of Health Awards have taken place. The awards are held in two ceremonies, the first in Wellington on Monday 22nd June and the second will be held in Auckland on Friday 26th June.

ENDS

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