Manurewa woman’s heroic effort recognised

The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund

PRESS RELEASE
October 15 2010

Manurewa woman’s heroic effort recognised on World Food Day

While the focus of this year’s World Food Day (Saturday October 16) is on the united efforts aimed at tackling world hunger, TEAR Fund is recognising the efforts of Manurewa woman Emma Diack, who raised $9000 for the starving in Niger.

TEAR Fund executive director, Steve Tollestrup said, “Emma’s achievement is a great example of someone who saw the dire need and decided not to ignore the problem because it was too big. This was an amazing effort by an individual.”

While TEAR Fund has been working hard to insulate Niger’s nomadic tribes from drought, nothing could have prepared them for more than two years without rain, said Mr Tollestrup. Now millions are on the brink of starvation.

TEAR Fund NZ is responding to the mammoth task of helping to feed millions and providing medical care for the sick and malnourished through its international partnerships.

Mrs Diack said when she heard about the famine, she thought it was not good enough to ignore it or leave it to the aid agencies. She believes everyone can do something, and together they could make a difference. “It is insane that people are dying from hunger when there is enough food in the world, and it takes as little as $50 to save a life.”

Mrs Diack decided to run an auction and start a Facebook page called Help Niger, to raise funds and awareness of the issue, which has had little media attention in New Zealand. The Facebook page even attracted the attention of former Prime Minister Helen Clark, now the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. As well as encouraging Emma, Mrs Clark donated an autographed UN tee-shirt for the auction.

“I was stoked that Helen Clark responded by commenting and donating an item for the auction.” Many local businesses also donated goods for the auction which was held at Manurewa Baptist last month.

“I was overwhelmed with the amount of money people gave. I felt that the auction went so well, and everyone enjoyed being part of such a fun way to give.” She said the amount raised was above her expectations, and she didn’t expect people to love it as much as they did. Among the 200 people who attended the auction, were Manukau City Councillors Colleen Brown and Daniel Newman.
She said she was grateful to the many businesses that donated goods, and having brand new iteMrs to auction and giving the money to a reputable organisation like TEAR Fund, really helped with the fundraising.

Mrs Diacks next venture is a half marathon: Run for their life: 21K for Niger, to raise $21,000. She admits she is unfit, but she is encouraging others like her who haven’t run in years, as well as those who are fit, to train for next year’s Auckland half marathon and raise sponsorship to help Niger.

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