YMCA Managers Ride for White Ribbon

Saturday, 20 November 2010, 10:10 am
Press Release: YMCA

Media Release 19 November 2010

For Immediate Release

YMCA Managers Ride for White Ribbon

Once again YMCA associations are turning out to support White Ribbon Day on 25 November to raise awareness of the effects of violence towards women.

White Ribbon Day, held each year on 25 November, is an international day of action and awareness when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women. In New Zealand most violence by men against women takes place in the home; each year an average of 14 women are killed by their partners or ex-partners and more than 3500 convictions for assaults on women are recorded.

For the second year in a row, some of the YMCA’s senior managers are also getting directly involved. The YMCA has supported White Ribbon Day in New Zealand for several years and all YMCAs are active in promoting the message and encouraging staff and members to wear a White Ribbon. Many YMCAs also put on special events to mark this occasion.

YMCA New Zealand National CEO Ric Odom; YMCA Hawkes Bay CEO Peter Andersson; YMCA Hawkes Bay OSCAR Co-ordinator Greg Ireland and YMCA Auckland’s Fitness Operation Manager Grant Helleur will be participating in the White Ribbon Ride this year. All four YMCA managers are keen motorcyclists and see this as an opportunity to make a personal expression in support of the White Ribbon cause.

National YMCA CEO Ric Odom said the appalling statistics around violence need to be reversed. As a family and youth oriented organisation, the YMCA is concerned for the health and wellbeing of communities. For this reason the organisation has been an active participant in the promotion of White Ribbon Day and involved in the planning of the White Ribbon Ride.

ENDS

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