Sisterly love spreads Christmas cheer for CanTeen 

CanTeen’s 2013 range of Christmas cards will take a family theme befitting the holiday season, featuring designs from two pairs of talented Kiwi sisters.

Sibling duos Bridget and Millie O’Grady from Canterbury, and Kimi-Ora and Brooke-Lyn Holtz from Northland, have been joined by Sarah Champion from Manawatu in contributing designs for the 2013 appeal.

This year’s designs weave together iconic Kiwiana with the stories and backgrounds of these five inspirational young women, each of whom have shared their own unique journey with cancer with CanTeen.

Patient Member Bridget was diagnosed with leukaemia six years ago at the age of 12 and joined CanTeen along with her two older sisters. Her design, a Christmas themed cricket set, recalls fun games of backyard cricket with her family over the summer.

Her older sister, and Sibling Member, Millie’s design features a Christmas tree overlaid on a pattern of stones, inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Lake Tekapo – a favourite Christmas holiday spot for the O’Grady family.

A bright red CanTeen branded Christmas present contrasts with golden ornaments in Kimi-Ora’s design, symbolising the amazing gift she considers her involvement with CanTeen to have been.

Sister Brooke-Lyn celebrates her Maori ethnicity in a design that incorporates New Zealand’s iconic Buzzy Bees and sees them taking the place of Santa and his eight reindeer.

Kimi-Ora and Brooke-Lyn both joined CanTeen as Sibling Members after their brother Adam was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at age three.
Patient Member Sarah was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 15 and, while she has faced many hurdles, her membership with CanTeen has helped her to overcome them. Her striking image of a robin sitting on a Christmas bauble set against a deep red background symbolises her path towards freedom from her cancer.

“Each of this year’s designers are not just remarkable artists,” says CanTeen National Marketing Manager Debbie Thomson, “they are remarkable people.”

“These young women demonstrate many of the strengths we see in young people dealing with cancer – they are strong, confident, compassionate and brave. And by sharing their love and talent with us all at Christmas, they are fantastic ambassadors for over 1,600 CanTeen members around the country.”

CanTeen Christmas cards come in packs of 10 for $18 and are available online at www.canteen.org.nz/shop/christmas-cards, by calling 0800 22 34 34. or by emailing cards@canteen.org.nz.

Corporate packages are also available from https://www.canteen.org.nz/shop/corporate-christmas-cards
For more information on CanTeen please visit www.canteen.org.nz

ENDS

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