Hadlow & McPhail to Raise Funds to save children

Two Christchurch Actors to Raise Funds to Help Stop Our Children Dying

Talented twosome, Mark Hadlow and David McPhail, combine their comedic abilities for a fundraiser at Christchurch Casino on Thursday October 9th.

“When Dinner Parties Go Bad”, will see Mark and David entertain in a "Fawlty Towers" kind of a way, as guests enjoy a three course table d’hôte dinner and auction, to raise funds for the Christchurch based Family Help Trust.

It’s a timely fundraiser. The Trust works very successfully with “high risk” families, where children are considered “at risk” before the Trust steps in. Only a week ago, an OECD survey showed New Zealand is number three out of 26 countries for child deaths resulting from maltreatment.

“Without pre-empting the final results of a recently completed independent evaluation,” Trust chair Sally Thompson says, “initial indications are that the work the Family Help Trust does, is clearly making a difference. As a result, children are safer and have a better chance in life. That’s great for our children, their families and society as a whole. But as we receive no central government funding, we rely on and are extremely grateful for sponsorship, donations, fundraising and funding from organisations and business.”

Mark Hadlow says although he is looking forward to working with David McPhail, he is wary of David with a knife.

“David is sharp, but can be a bit, well, clumsy really and I hope my decision not to use a stunt double for part of the performance is not one I shall regret,” says Mark Hadlow.

Sally Thompson is thrilled Messer’s McPhail and Hadlow will be performing for the fundraiser and is also grateful for the Casino’s support. She says if it wasn’t for people like Mark and David, Arthur Pitcher and his Casino staff and many others, the Trust would not be able to do the work they do.

“We must not forget the Lilybing’s, James Whakaruru’s or Saliel Aplin’s. When cases like those make the news, it’s talked about emotionally and relentlessly at the time. But too quickly it is forgotten, until the next one,” she says. “Family Help Trust services clearly do make a difference, but we can only continue with the generous support of individuals, businesses and other organisations in Canterbury.”

Tickets are selling fast but at this stage, there are some tickets still available. The auction will offer mainly novelty items in keeping with the spirit of the evening, but there will be some “must have” items available for purchase.

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