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The Hibiscus Matters team has stepped up to fundraising challenges this month to support organisations helping people with blood cancer and sight loss.
First up, Hibiscus Matters’ graphic designer Lorry McCarthy took on the Step Up Challenge, raising $1211 for the cause alongside her daughter Lulu Smith. The pair were among more than 600 fundraisers taking part.
As a sister event to the firefighters’ annual Sky Tower Challenge, the event gives people the chance to tackle Auckland’s Sky Tower’s 51 flights of stairs while raising money for the Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ Foundation.
The challenge brought together participants from across the country, who warmed up with the Snap Fitness team before taking on the climb.
Lorry says special mention goes to the step up crew member on the very last landing before the finish, she was everyones personal cheerleader. “I see you! Come on! Last flight you can do it!” she must have been hoarse that night after cheering on 602 people!”
Lorry finished in an impressive 13 minutes and 11 seconds, placing 277th out of the 602 climbers, with Lulu hot on her heels at 14 minutes and 25 seconds.
Throughout this month, journalist Maddy Derbyshire-Smith is putting her best foot – and paw – forward for PAWGUST. Participants set a personal walking goal and get moving with their dogs to raise funds for Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs.
Maddy is aiming to walk 60km throughout August, and money raised goes towards the guide dogs programme and the dogs preparing to become working guide dogs. Her family has helped train several guide dog puppies over the years, but her walking companion Winnie is a pup who didn’t quite make it through the programme. Rather than saying goodbye, the family decided to keep Winnie as a much-loved member of the family.
“Winnie gets a walk, I get a walk, we’re both winners,” she says.
Both fundraisers will stay open until the end of the month, with Step Up Challenge closing on September 1 and PAWGUST closing on September 30. For anyone wanting to support, visit the Hibiscus Matters socials on Facebook and Instagram for how to donate.
