MEDIA RELEASE
22 April 2010
Students reach new heights with Child Cancer Fundraiser
Helipro and Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) joined together for a good cause on April 10. As part of a
fundraising initiative for the Child Cancer Foundation, the two organisations hosted children affected by cancer for a
special day out on Queens Wharf.
On the day, 30 free flights were offered to children currently in remission from cancer. The event also provided the
opportunity for the general public to get up close and personal with the Helipro Helicopters, enjoy the entertainment
and make a donation to a worthy charity.
Helipro enlisted the help of WelTec’s Event Management students to plan and implement the fundraiser. “It was a great
experience for all involved,” says Event Management Lecturer, Joany Grima. “Helipro were very pleased to have WelTec
students on board and it was a good result to be able to raise a significant amount of money for the Child Cancer
Foundation. The students got a lot of satisfaction out of it - it’s something they can be really proud of.”
Introduced earlier this year in response to industry demand, WelTec’s Graduate Diploma in Event Management has proven to
be a hit with students and businesses alike. As part of the programme,
students have the opportunity to get a real taste of the industry as they plan, organise and manage an event.
“WelTec is all about producing work-ready graduates. You can’t substitute experiencing an event first hand - and what
better environment to do so than a training environment.
In addition to being involved with industry events, students will also have the opportunity to complete an internship.
One student has already been snapped up to work on the World Junior Snowboarding Championships and another for UNIFEM,
the women’s development fund at the United Nations.
“There are a wide range of career opportunities in event management from corporate events, sporting events and music
events. It’s an exciting industry to be a part of and I think the students are just starting to realise that, they are
widening their horizons all the time.”
ends