Show Your Support For Kids With Cancer

Petra Hancock is a five year old cancer survivor, and this year during the Child Cancer Foundation Appeal (10-16 March), she is encouraging fellow New Zealanders to help support other brave kids with cancer.

As the Face of the Appeal 2008, this bubbly little girl from Whenuapai is sharing her unique cancer story and her special collection of beads, which she received for being brave through her ordeal.

Petra was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour (cancer of the kidney) in March 2007 and underwent urgent surgery, followed by eight months of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, to stop the spread of cancer throughout her small body.

For every procedure or treatment Petra endured in Starship Children’s Health, she received another special Bead of Courage. She collected a total of 376 beads, including one for when her long hair fell out and one for not being able to start school with her twin sister Libby on their 5th birthday.

Beads of Courage is a support programme, sponsored by the Child Cancer Foundation, designed to honour the bravery of each child who undergoes cancer treatment in New Zealand. Each bead represents a different cancer treatment procedure and together they serve to tell the child’s unique story of courage. The Child Cancer Foundation wishes for all children being treated for cancer to have the opportunity to participate in the Beads of Courage programme, and is asking New Zealanders to donate $4 and wear a Support Bead during the Appeal Week 10 - 16 March. Support Beads are available from Child Cancer Foundation street collectors or participating retailers.

“Appeal Week is our biggest fundraising initiative. The lives of these children and their families are turned upside down in a matter of minutes when they are diagnosed with cancer. The Child Cancer Foundation aims to provide emotional and practical support to all kids and their families as they go through this incredibly tough ordeal. Beads of Courage provides the children with a special way of communicating their experiences and lets them know just how brave we think they are,” said Child Cancer Foundation Marketing Manager, Olivia Blaylock.

This year, the Child Cancer Foundation is delighted to have Hyundai on board as the Platinum Sponsor.

Executive Director, Hyundai Motors NZ, Philip Eustace, said, “We’re delighted to help the Child Cancer Foundation make 2008 the most successful Appeal to date. Part of this commitment involves giving Hyundai staff throughout our network of dealerships the opportunity to collect and take part in the Appeal.”

Hyundai is also the key sponsor of the Hyundai Wheels of Courage initiative, and at the end of Appeal Week, the company will be auctioning off a Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle covered in colourful handprints of kids with cancer. All proceeds from the TradeMe auction will go towards helping brave children like Petra.

“We are devoted to supporting children with cancer and their families, as well as the health professionals who care for them. We urge New Zealanders to dig deep and help us to raise the funds needed to continue helping these families,” said Blaylock.

Every $4 donation to the Child Cancer Foundation Appeal will make a difference. It will help the Foundation to provide vital services to families including financial assistance, emotional support, advocacy, education initiatives and scholarship programmes; it will assist in raising awareness of the cause; and enable the health professionals to continue the search for a cause and cure for childhood cancer.

Support Beads are available from street collectors or from Hyundai Dealerships, The Professionals Real Estate outlets, South Canterbury Finance offices, in-store at JK Kids Gear and the Mad Butcher, or from other participating outlets.

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About Child Cancer Foundation:

The Child Cancer Foundation is a not-for profit charity that provides practical and emotional support to children with cancer, their families, and the health professionals who care for them. The Foundation supports 22 branches throughout the country and receives no government funding, or funding from other cancer support agencies. The Foundation provides support for health professionals and contributes financially to research initiatives. It also focuses on providing support and information to families upon diagnosis and throughout their journey with cancer. The Child Cancer Foundation works as advocates on behalf of both specific individuals and all families suffering childhood cancer. The vision is that no child or their family walking the childhood cancer journey should ever feel alone.

About Hyundai Motors NZ: Hyundai is the sixth largest automaker in 2006, selling in 193 countries and employing 50,000 people. Hyundai New Zealand has experienced significant growth over the past four years and sits sixth in 2007 for the greatest number of passenger vehicles sold. Hyundai New Zealand has numerous new locations among its 23 dealerships.

Worldwide Hyundai was the sixth largest automaker in 2006, selling in 193 countries and employing 50,000 people. Forty years old, Hyundai has targeted customer satisfaction as its 2007 keynote, part of the brand's overall aim to become global quality leader.

Hyundai is a committed sponsor of sports and cultural organisations in New Zealand and worldwide. See www.hyundai.co.nz For further information about Hyundai vehicles in New Zealand, including high resolution images and an archive of press releases, log onto the dedicated Hyundai Media website at www.hyundai.co.nz/media

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