Accor Volunteers to Fiji in a ‘Race for Survival'

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Competitors on the first day of the event yesterday

Kids Not Coup the Crisis – Accor Volunteers Fly Into Fiji in a ‘Race for Survival’

Volunteers show commitment to the cure Kids Fiji cause

NOVEMBER 7 2006: Choosing kids over the Government’s coup warnings, more than 50 Accor Hotels staff and associates have joined local Fijian competitors in a five-day adventure fundraising event - ‘Accor’s Race to Survive’ – which had its official start early yesterday on Denarau Island.

“The real crisis in Fiji at the moment is not the reported threat of a coup – it’s the kids’,” says Accor ‘Race To Survive’ spokesperson, Sonya Rossiter.

“People would be shocked at the lack of basic medical equipment and access to medical information available for Fijian medical teams and how dire the situation is for children living with disease and life threatening illnesses.”
“Accor’s Race to Survive and the commitment of our volunteers will go a long way towards raising much needed funds and awareness for the plight of sick and underprivileged children living in Fiji.”

Ms Rossiter says given that the current political situation is focused on Suva, some 200 kms away from the Accor ‘Race to Survive’ action and various holiday resorts of Denarau Island (Western Viti Levu), race supporters remain confident that personal safety is not an issue.

“It is business as usual on Denarau and Fiji’s many other tourist focused islands so the least we can do is survive five days of racing here in paradise so that the kids can survive a lifetime’,” she says.

“Collectively Accor’s initial fundraising target was AU$130,000, and we are already well beyond that having raised AU$200,000 to date. Our ongoing success means that every participant is committed to seeing our challenge through to the end, with our ultimate aim to provide better medical support and facilities for children here in the Fijian islands.”

Twelve teams of Accor staff members from Accor branded hotels across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji are competing in the race aimed to push participants to their physical limits over a strenuous course that involves swimming, mountain biking, outrigging and running.

Accor launched Cure Kids Fiji in April this year in partnership with New Zealand based Cure Kids (who have been funding crucial medical research into childhood illnesses for 35 years) and Rotary. The race was created to assist Cure Kids in its efforts to provide ongoing basic life-saving medicines for children in Fiji, better equipment and education for Fijian medical staff.
For more information, race event updates or to make a donation please visit www.curekidsfiji.com.

ENDS

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