The Grocery Charity Ball 2004

The 2004 Grocery Charity Ball was held in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of New Zealand.
Cystic Fibrosis is the most common life-threatening disease affecting caucasian children in New Zealand, and currently there are more than 350 sufferers in the country. It is not contagious, but an inherited disorder caused by both the child’ parents being carriers of an abnormal gene.

Cystic Fibrosis causes the mucus in our bodies to become very thick and sticky, blocking the tubes and ducts to our various organs. Air passages in the lungs become blocked, trapping bacteria and causing shortness of breath, a chronic cough and repeated infections – leading to irreversible lung damage and even death.

Cystic Fibrosis is currently treated by intensive daily chest physiotherapy. enzyme replacement medication, and antibiotics when necessary. However, despite the fact that these treatments do prolong the lives of sufferers, there is still no cure for the disease.

Held at the Hyatt Regency in Auckland on Friday 13th August, the 2004 Grocery Charity Ball raised $100,000 in support of Cystic Fibrosis – providing funds for research into new treatments, support for families affected by the illness, and laptop computers for sufferers - enabling them to take up the educational opportunities we take so much for granted.

For more information about Cystic Fibrosis or to make a donation, visit the association’s website here.

Watched by fellow Grocery Charity Ball Trustee Scott MacKay, Don Graham hands over a cheque for $100,000 to Kate Russell, General Manager of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of New Zealand.

Melanoma benefits from 2010 Ball

The Melanoma Foundation of New Zealand is a registered charitable trust, a young charity formed in 2004, which is working hard to reduce the incidence and dreadful impact of melanoma in New Zealand.

New Zealand has the highest melanoma incidence rate in the world. Recent figures put our incidence even ahead of Australia's. Every year around 300 New Zealanders die from melanoma and there are 2000 new diagnoses. The death rates amongst New Zealand men are even increasing! These are shocking statistics for a cancer that is largely preventable.

Although most early melanoma is successfully treated through surgery, once melanoma is invasive it is a horrible cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not proven to assist in treatment of Stage 4 melanoma. Melanoma is taking the lives of many young adults as well as older New Zealanders.

The Melanoma Foundation works in three goal areas:

Improving the outcome for people affected by melanoma. This includes providing information and support for patients and their families. They also advocate that New Zealanders should be offered service and treatment equal to the best in the world. In the future they hope to be able to support melanoma research and better facilities.
Community awareness and education about melanoma in the interest of prevention and early detection of melanoma.
Fostering communication and co-ordination amongst professionals whose work relates to melanoma.