MEDIA RELEASE
21st JULY 2010
French Themed Luncheon Raises $6000 For NZ Spinal Trust
While not many Kiwis would back the French, it seems plenty were happy to support a French-themed luncheon at The Flying
Moa in Auckland for a very worthwhile cause.
The Mt Wellington pub has just held its second annual charity fundraiser with this year’s proceeds going to the New
Zealand Spinal Trust. The degustation luncheon was sponsored by Monteith’s and featured six French-inspired courses,
each matched with a Monteith’s variant.
The public luncheon raised $6000 for the NZ Spinal Trust which provides information, education, research, advocacy and
support for people who have spinal cord impairment.
The decision by The Flying Moa to support the NZ Spinal Trust with the luncheon was made by the bar’s owner, Andy
Roberts, who has a strong association with rugby and players who have injured themselves playing the game. He also lived
in France for four years hence the reason the French-themed lunch came just two days after Bastille Day.
“We were really thrilled with local response to the fundraiser,” he says, “and the fact that all tickets were sold out
well ahead of the luncheon. It shows just how much support there is among our community for the NZ Spinal Trust which we
were honored to be able to support. They do amazing work assisting people with devastating spinal injuries which can
occur at any stage in a person’s life. We were also extremely grateful for the presence of media personalities, Andrew
Mulligan and James McConie, who acted as MC’s on the day and provided ample humorous and entertaining moments.”
NZ Spinal Trust chief executive Andrew Hall says he was delighted to attend the luncheon and thrilled to receive $6000
on behalf of the Trust.
“The NZ Spinal Trust is thrilled with the continuing awesome support from The Flying Moa team and their partners DB
Breweries. Six courses of the most exquisite food all matched with the appropriate Monteith’s beer was a wonderful way
to spend the afternoon. And to raise $6000 was a tremendous outcome and a great tribute to the hard work of Andy
Roberts, Tim McClay and all of The Flying Moa team.
“All of the funds raised at the ‘Le Long Dejeuner’ at The Flying Moa are being used to support the NZ Spinal Trust’s
Kaleidoscope programme which is based at the Auckland Spinal rehabilitation unit in Otara. The Kaleidoscope team is busy
working with new arrivals to the Spinal Unit and with people in the community who may have had a spinal injury a long
time ago, to help them return to the workforce again.”
CAPTION: NZ Spinal Trust’s Andrew Hall (left) and The Flying Moa’s Andy Roberts celebrate the success of the fundraising
luncheon with a Monteith’s in hand.
ENDS