Leading Icons Light Up Pink For Breast Cancer

5 February 2004

Media Release For Immediate Publication

Leading Icons Light Up Pink For The NZ Breast Cancer Foundation In Countdown To SKYCITY Starlight Symphony

Two of Auckland’s leading landmarks – the Sky Tower and Auckland Museum - will be lit pink every night from tonight (Thursday 5 February 2004) to Sunday 15 February 2004 to celebrate the ten day countdown to the 2004 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony, from which proceeds will this year go to The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

The free annual outdoor concert will once again be held at the Auckland Domain, this year on Valentine’s Day (Saturday 14 February 2004), and will appropriately feature a Valentine’s Day love theme. The colour pink was selected to represent the promotional colour of the recipient charity for this year’s event, The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. An army of 400 or more volunteer gold coin collectors will help fundraise for the cause.

Event organiser John Searle says Sky Tower is lit in the recipient charity’s colours each year for the SKYCITY Starlight Symphony event.

“This is the first time that Auckland Museum will also be lit up for the event, thanks to Mercury Energy, who have sponsored the museum’s lighting this year as well as the Mercury Energy laser lights show – a regular feature in the SKYCITY Starlight Symphony for the past 12 years.

“The idea to light up both icons, which are clearly visible from the Auckland Domain and on the Auckland landscape, is a fun way to add a colourful new dimension to the event,” says Mr Searle.

SKYCITY Entertainment Group spokeswoman, Delwyn Lewer, says that as an ongoing supporter of The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, SKYCITY is thrilled to be able to light Sky Tower pink once again to help raise awareness for the event and for the charity cause.

“SKYCITY has been an integral part of The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation’s Global Illumination Landmark Campaign since 2000. Famous monuments around the world including Auckland’s Sky Tower light up pink throughout October’s annual breast cancer awareness month to promote the importance of early detection.

“Statistics show that over 2000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in New Zealand (over 44 new cases each week) and the need for information to motivate women to look after themselves is as important as ever. We’re thrilled to be able to help get this important message out to the people of New Zealand,” says Ms Lewer.

Other global landmarks involved in the Global Illumination Landmark Campaign include the Empire State Building, Tokyo Tower, Harrods department store in London and the Park Hyatt Hotel on Sydney Harbour.

The 2004 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony event will be hosted by John Hawkesby and daughter Kate Hawkesby. It will feature a range of romantic operatic and popular songs performed by some of New Zealand’s greatest emerging young performers as well as some of the nation’s most acclaimed and popular artists.

Returning to the symphony this year is the Auckland Philharmonia with Brian Law as conductor and the SKYCITY Massed Choir conducted by John Rosser.

Europe-based Kiwi operatic soprano Andrea Creighton (winner of the 1996 Mobil Song Quest) returns home from working in Paris to perform the famous Jewel Song from Faust as well as the Sarah Brightman classic A Time To Say Goodbye. The modern section this year will feature top NZ rock diva Tina Cross, performing alongside young emerging singer Nick Afoa (who performed the National Anthem for the All Blacks during the World Cup) to sing hits from the musical Grease including Summer Nights, and You’re the One that I Want. Kiwi brothers Rikki and Ian Morris will perform their number one smash hits from the eighties Nobody Else and Game of Love. The event’s modern section will also showcase talented New Zealand stage and screen performers Joel Tobeck and Jason Te Patu singing a rendition from the Blues Brothers – Somebody To Love.

Other highlights for the 2004 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony include a special Lord of the Rings orchestral segment, a spectacular fireworks display and the return of crowd pleasers Pomp and Circumstance, Tchaikowsky’s 1812 Overture, The National Anthem and Now is the Hour to round off the evening.

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation is still looking for volunteers to help with their fundraising efforts at this year’s SKYCITY Starlight Symphony. *

This is the sixth year SKYCITY has been the major sponsor of the SKYCITY Starlight Symphony and the second year with The Giltrap Motor Group as associate sponsor. SKYCITY has also sponsored The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation since 2000.

- Volunteers to help The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation raise funds at the 2004 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony will be required from 4pm to approximately 10pm. Meals and refreshments for all volunteers will be supplied and their support will help in the fight against breast cancer. To register to become a volunteer to help collect donations and sell light sticks at the 2004 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony, please contact The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation on 0508 105 105 or e-mail pinkribbon@p10.co.nz.
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