Five Cents Can Make A Difference

Five Cents Can Make A Difference

Media Release 14 October, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIVE CENTS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Would you stoop to pick up five cents from the pavement?

Ah, but would you stoop to pick up $25,000?

That is the amount raised (in five cent coins) last year in just a few weeks.

The Leukaemia and Blood Foundation (LBF) is cashing in on the widespread perception that the five cent coin is not worth the cupro-nickel it's smelted from.

It's asking school children throughout New Zealand to "Give Us Five", to collect five cent pieces wherever they may be lurking - thrown into jars, drawers, coat pockets - and give them to the LBF annual appeal.

"If you have enough five cent coins, you can achieve a great deal," says LBF Executive Director Jim Hamilton. "If enough people 'give us five' it will go a long way to helping with the Foundation's work in leukaemia research, education and support of people with this form of cancer."

In fact in New Zealand there are 491 million five cent coins that are not in circulation. So if 5 million of these coins are collected that will mean that $250,000 can go to help leukaemia patients and their families.

The Foundation also has a number of other fund raising projects for this appeal.

"We're asking shoppers at New World (from Taumaranui to KeriKeri) to round up their grocery bill - to the nearest dollar or whatever they would like to donate. Again, it's money people won't even notice, but collectively it could make a real difference to someone who needs treatment for leukaemia," Mr Hamilton says.

The LBF is also running a Shave for a Cure* Appeal with Celebrity Shaving events planned in selected shopping malls around the country.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the appeal or volunteer their assistance can log on to www.leukaemia.org.nz or contact us on 080015 10 15

The Leukaemia Appeal Week runs from November 12 - 18.

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For further information:

Jim Hamilton Executive Director Leukaemia and Blood Foundation of New Zealand Tel: 09 308 0240, Mob: 021 990 722

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