Competitors in the upcoming Ironman 70.3 Auckland event are able to support the charity that grants special wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.
Make-A-Wish has been appointed the Official Charity for the triathlon, which doubles as the official Asia Pacific Championship, to be held in and around Auckland's iconic waterfront on 19 January 2014.
Competitors have the opportunity to fundraise for Make-A-Wish by signing up as Wish Racers and encouraging their family, friends and workmates to donate to their fundraising page.
Make-A-Wish Fundraising and Marketing Manager Annabel Lush is delighted to be associated with the event and can see a real synergy between both organisations.
"Make-A-Wish brings hope, strength and joy into the lives of children with life threatening medical conditions through the granting of their special wishes," says Annabel.
"The Ironman athletes have an abundance of aspiration and hope that their training will get them to the start line, they need the strength to get them through the race and then they have the joy of crossing the finishing line.
Ironman New Zealand believes its sport has a wider obligation to the community by way of support for a charity.
"For many Ironman athletes, this sport becomes the catalyst for them to make meaningful changes, not only to their well-being but to also inspire those around them," said Ironman 70.3 Auckland Event Director, Janette Blyth.
"It's our sincere belief that collectively we can help Make-A-Wish New Zealand achieve their goals to enrich the hopes and desires of too many children facing such dire challenges."
Annabel Lush says Make-A-Wish is dedicated to making every eligible child's wish come true. Each year it grants the wishes of hundreds of Kiwi kids – children like six year old Mikey who lives with a brain tumour and wished for his own playhouse with a slide or Chantal (12), who has had leukaemia and travelled to the Gold Coast with her family to have her wish of seeing a polar bear come true at Seaworld.
For further details:
http://www.everydayhero.co.nz/event/aucklandironman or
http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/aucklandironman/
About Make-A-Wish New Zealand
Make-A-Wish New Zealand began granting wishes in 1986. Since then more than 1,600 wishes have been granted. The key mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to bring hope, strength and joy at a very challenging time in their lives
Make-A-Wish New Zealand is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish International, which has a presence in 50 countries. Make-A-Wish is the largest wish granting organisation in the world
All wish recipients (between the ages of 3 - 17 years of age) have a life-threatening medical condition. Make-A-Wish does not means test and is non-religious. All eligible wish children receive a wish.
