Nominations can include anyone in these industries who live in the South Island who is threatened with long-term ill health, financial disaster or a similar family tragedy, and is facing outstanding medical and related costs.
Last year the trust raised enough money to support Mhairi Flett who needed the non-Pharmac funded cancer drug Herceptin, at a cost of more than $100,000. At aged 40 and barely three months after the birth of her second child, Mhairi was diagnosed with breast cancer, given only a weekend to wean her son Brodie, then prepare for surgery. While good results have been recorded from Herceptin overseas, the drug was not funded by Pharmac at the time.
The money was raised by a variety of methods including a charity ball and silent auction held last November in Christchurch which raised over $70,000 in one night.
A further $600 was raised in December by Phil Patey, who rode as a sponsored competitor for the Full Colour Trust in the Active Health QEII Triathlon and Duathlon.
After this success, the trust is planning another range of fundraising activities this year.
