MEDIA RELEASE
31 May 2017
CANCER SOCIETY AND FOREST & BIRD RECEIVE REAL JOURNEYS CRUISE-FOR-A-CAUSE
The Real Journeys Cruise-for-a-Cause this year will assist Forest & Bird with predator control and help train the greater number of volunteers needed by the Cancer Society in the
Southland and Otago Region.
“We’re the only cancer-related organisation with trained staff on the ground in nine locations across our region: from
Invercargill to Oamaru. The increase in people affected by cancer has meant that demand for our support services has
increased 60% in the last two years. Cruise-for-a-Cause will give us much needed funds to provide extra resources and
train more volunteers for that support team,” says Rachael Hart, CEO Cancer Society - Otago Southland.
The Cancer Society says it is thrilled to have such a unique fundraising opportunity. It will receive 100% of the
proceeds from selling all 63 places on the Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise on the 16th September.
“The generosity of Real Journeys will help ensure we are still never more than an hour’s help away from any person in
Otago and Southland with any type of cancer,” says Rachael.
The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society already knows the benefits of the Cruise-for-a-Cause initiative having raised almost $18,000 on
the Milford Sound trip last year. Following its successful campaign Forest and Bird will sell the first Doubtful Sound
Overnight Cruise of the season on the Fiordland Navigator on 2nd September. Forest & Bird Chief Executive Kevin Hague says the funding will support its work towards establishing a Predator Free New
Zealand.
“The nightly activity of rats, stoats and possums causes the loss of irreplaceable ancient species in Fiordland and
throughout the country. Like the Real Journeys team, Forest & Bird want to share the spectacular wilderness of our incredible country with others and inspire them to join in
protecting our unique environment. Funds raised from this once in a lifetime trip to Doubtful Sound will be used to
support Forest & Bird’s practical pest-control to protect our unique heritage,” says Kevin.
There were twenty applicants for the Cruise-for-a-Cause initiative which is now in its the third year. Real Journeys
provides the dinner, breakfast and water activities. So far, Cruise-for-a-Cause has raised a total of $60,000 which has
supported the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, Queenstown Lakes Family Trust, Wakatipu High School Foundation and Forest and
Bird.
For more information about Cruise-for-a-Cause visit: www.cruiseforacause.co.nz
About Real Journeys www.realjourneys.co.nz
Real Journeys is a privately owned tourism business that was founded in 1954 by tourism and conservation pioneers Les
and Olive Hutchins. Today the company remains true to its founders and their guiding principles of conservation and
hospitality.
Based in some of the most untouched areas of New Zealand, Real Journeys has operations from Stewart Island to Queenstown
– including the Te Anau Glowworm Caves and world renowned day and overnight cruises through Milford and Doubtful Sounds
and the heritage steamship TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak High Country Farm.