Cancer Society Powers Up the Care for Wellington Patients

Media Release

29th August 2016

Cancer Society Powers Up the Care for Wellington Patients

The Cancer Society’s Margaret Stewart House in Wellington has launched a fundraising appeal to pay for solar panels that will generate predicted savings on power bills of $300,000 over the next 25 years.

The organisation has just launched its ‘Power Up The Cancer Society’ campaign which will culminate in a state-of-the-art solar power system installed at Margaret Stewart House on the grounds of Wellington Hospital.

The savings in power costs will be redirected into providing even greater services and amenities by the Cancer Society for those 21,000 people currently battling cancer in the region.

Margaret Stewart House is the home away from home for the hundreds every year who need to travel from out of town for cancer treatment.

It will be fitted out with 116 new solar panels with the Society aiming to raise a total of $70,000 – of which $9,000 has already been secured - to cover all costs.

Cancer Society Wellington Chief Executive, Mike Smith, says the organisation is very excited about the savings that can be made from switching to solar energy. “Power bills on a facility like Margaret Stewart House are very high because we are providing accommodation, food and other amenities to make our cancer patients and their support persons as comfortable as possible,” Mr Smith says.

“We have been given a generous discount on the solar panelling system and installation by SolarKing so that people can donate the reduced price of $600 for a panel and they can track the power their panel provides by visiting our website,” he explains. “Obviously people can also purchase more than one panel or make a part contribution towards the cost of just one.”

“We hope the community will rally and help us slash our current power bills and free up money that can bechannelled into core activities that have a direct and positive impact on people going through cancer,” says Mr Smith.

To support the Power Up The Cancer Society Fundraiser, go to: https://give.everydayhero.com/nz/powerup-the-cancer-society-margaret-stewart-house

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