Masquerade Ball to Mark Camp Quality Anniversary

Media Release
18 August 2010

Masquerade Ball to Mark Camp Quality 25th Anniversary Celebrations in Auckland

Pukekohe will be a rocking place next month with the prospect of people dancing in the streets – all in the name of charity.

The Auckland/Northland region of Camp Quality NZ is staging a Masquerade Ball at the Pukekohe Town Hall on Saturday September 18 as its keynote event to mark the 25th anniversary of Camp Quality providing summer camps and year-round support to children living with cancer and their families in New Zealand.

Camp Quality NZ, a not for profit, volunteer organisation, is marking its 25th year of providing week-long summer camps and year-round support to children living with cancer. The first camp was held in West Auckland in January 1985 and attracted 22 youngsters from throughout New Zealand. Now more than 300 youngsters aged 6-16 attend one of five regional summer camps nationwide.

The Masquerade Ball is one of a number of events taking place around the country to mark 25 years of Camp Quality in each region. They include a ‘Living Billboard’ in Dunedin, a Jubilee Ball in Hamilton, a Truck Show at Ruapuna Raceway near Christchurch and a 25th Anniversary Dinner in Christchurch in October.

Organiser Lyn Tennant says the Ball is not only to raise funds and celebrate 25 years, but also to “thank everyone who has helped out over the years. We also wanted to do something different so are inviting people to dress up for the Masquerade Ball and have a fun night out,” says Lyn, a life member of Camp Quality NZ who has been involved with the Auckland/Northland region for more than 15 years.

The all-volunteer organisation benefits greatly from the community in a number of ways. For the Ball, Lyn and his team have approached local school art departments requesting they create posters to display around the hall on the night “with a prize going to the student with the best poster,” he says.

There will also be an auction on the night aimed to raise money for Camp Quality with a number of prize packages on offer.

Camp Quality Chairman Jim Grierson says that each year, at a cost of more than $550,000, and with the support of more than 750 volunteers, “we deliver week-long summer camps and fun activities for children living with cancer. The goal of the camps is to provide the campers with fun experiences, comradeship and achievable challenges, to encourage them to focus on the positive aspects of their lives.”

This year marks 25 years since the first summer camp in New Zealand. The Auckland Ball is part of a series of events nationwide to celebrate the silver anniversary

According to Child Cancer Foundation statistics, about 150 young New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year. Camp Quality passionately believes in the power of fun to help these children and their families overcome the challenges of living with cancer.

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