$1million target for cancer awareness

For immediate release
23 August 2007

Bank staff set themselves a $1million target for cancer awareness

National Bank staff are aiming to raise $1 million for The Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day this year.

Bank staff from across the country– from branches to business units – will be getting out from behind their desks all over New Zealand and getting involved in an extraordinary range of activities, from quiz nights and golf tournaments to art auctions and cabaret evenings.

The Daffodil Day Street Appeal is on Friday 31 August, although National Bank branches are already festooned with daffodils, yellow balloons and streamers, and fundraising activities are already well under-way.

This is the 17th year of The National Bank’s principal sponsorship of Daffodil Day, and in that time staff have raised more than $11 million for The Cancer Society says Managing Director of The National Bank Retail Banking, Craig Sims.

“This year we’ve given ourselves the challenge of a fund-raising first: reaching the million dollar target, which is a big goal, and to our knowledge no other New Zealand corporate has yet achieved this” he says.

“Last year, our staff’s efforts brought in $935,000 which was one fifth of the total 2006 Appeal tally.”

This year’s activities include the Cycle of Hope, in which a group of committed National Bank staff members who will cycle the 790 kms from Auckland to Wellington in four days in a bid to raise $100,000 towards the Bank’s million dollar target.

Continues Sims, “in talking to our staff, it’s clear that a very real passion has built up around this very special sponsorship and we’re confident of reaching our target this year.”

An important aspect of Daffodil Day is that funds raised regionally will be spent in that same region, supporting the local Cancer Society Activities.

“In making an even bigger effort this year, we know that we will be making a real difference to the communities in which we operate” says Sims.

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