Vettori, Oram, Gray-Nicolls to hit Pink Boundaries

Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram and GRAY-NICOLLS to hit Pink Boundaries

MELBOURNE, Jan.23 /MediaNet International-AsiaNet/--

New Zealand Cricket Captain Daniel Vettori and the big-hitting Jacob Oram, in association with bat sponsor GRAY-NICOLLS, will kit-up for the most common cause of cancer and cancer related deaths in New Zealand women, breast cancer.

The partnership will see Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram, as well as Mathew Sinclair and Lou Vincent, use a PINK grip during both Twenty20 matches against England on 5 and 7 March 2008 and for every boundary these cricketers hit GRAY-NICOLLS will donate $200.00 to The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF).

GRAY-NICOLLS will make its first donation of $2,903.00 to The NZBCF today at a Press Conference, which is the amount raised to date from pink grips sales this summer in which $1.00 from every sale goes to The NZBCF.

GRAY-NICOLLS New Zealand General Manager Rory McKay said: “This initial donation is only a small start to a commitment from GRAY-NICOLLS to The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. A much larger donation will come from the cricketer’s bats during the England matches.

“It is with a great privilege that GRAY-NICOLLS can help support breast cancer research in achieving much-needed funds, and just as important, awareness and exposure of the disease.”

Helen Mawn, Executive Director of The NZBCF, says the support of GRAY-NICOLLS and some of New Zealand’s top cricketers in the fi ght against breast cancer is a fantastic start to 2008.

“We speak a lot about healthy lifestyle choices when it comes to reducing the risk of breast cancer, and having good role models who look after their bodies sends a very positive message,” says Mawn.

“The fact is that one in ten New Zealand men will lose a mother, wife, sister or daughter to breast cancer. Over 600 women will die this year of breast cancer in New Zealand - and about 20 men will be diagnosed with this disease. If 48,000 men were seated in Eden Park watching a cricket game - nearly 5,000 will lose someone to breast cancer in their family,” says Helen.

She adds that the awareness and funds raised this summer by New Zealand’s cricketers will help immensely in the continuing battle with this disease.

ENDS

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