Sponsorship Deal With Chris Cairns Foundation

Press Release
11 December 07

TOLL NZ SIGN SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH CHRIS CAIRNS FOUNDATION

The Chris Cairns Foundation proudly announced today that Toll NZ has officially signed as the Diamond sponsor of the Foundation. The $100,000 sponsorship arrangement was finalised yesterday.

Charity Manager of the Chris Cairns Foundation Patrick Jackson said, “It is great to have Toll NZ as our major sponsor as they have given the Foundation so much support since the launch earlier this year”.

Chris Cairns established the Foundation in memory of his sister Louise who was killed after a truck collided with a train she was a passenger in. Two other women also died in the crash in 1993.

Chris Cairns said “I am delighted Toll NZ has agreed to become the Diamond sponsor for the Chris Cairns Foundation. Without their initial help and guidance this Foundation could not have achieved what it has thus far. The resources that they have committed to the Foundation, both financially and through utilising their industry knowledge, means we can now enhance our educational objectives and deal with rail tragedies which has been a perennial problem for too many years in New Zealand”.

Toll NZ GM Corporate Affairs Sue Foley said, “We are delighted to finalise our Diamond sponsorship of the Chris Cairns Foundation. Since it's inception we have played a significant part in the formation of the foundation and we are proud to continue our association. Our staff have got behind the effort and, particularly for our locomotive engineers, there is a realisation that something in earnest is now being done about this serious issue”.

Major fundraising plans in the future include a Charity Walk in August next year from Auckland to Rolleston to the site where Louise Cairns was killed, and a Foundation Dinner is also planned in Auckland on March 15 next year.

Gold sponsors of the Foundation include ONTRACK and Shell. Patrick Jackson said, “The support from all parties has meant that the future of the Foundation is assured and will enable us to raise rail safety awareness nationwide”.

The Foundation has already contributed to national rail safety awareness and a major central North Island billboard campaign.

ENDS

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