Click to enlarge
Caption: SLT Toulmin and SLT Topp exercise their thumbs in preparation for the Queenstown $10 Challenge.

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

8 July 2008

THUMBS UP FOR DEFENCE FORCE TEAMS

Three teams from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will be practicing their hitchhiking skills over the next few months in preparation for a major fundraiser for Cure Kids, the Accor Queenstown $10 Challenge, from 1-3 October.

Teams participating in the event are given $10 and have to use various modes of transport to get from Auckland to Queenstown in three days. There are 35 teams taking part and the team that arrives in Queenstown with the most points after undertaking a wide variety of challenges on the way will be the winner.

The NZDF teams are Navy: Sub-Lieutenant Fraser Toulmin and Sub-Lieutenant Darcy Topp, Army: Lieutenant Christian Anderson and Bas Bolyn, Air Force: Corporal Lydia Savage and Pilot Officer Sean McKeogh.

SLT Toulmin from the Navy team said, “Surviving on our wits is something we are trained to do in Defence so our teams should do well. However, it’s not just about the challenge of getting to Queenstown; it’s about raising awareness for Cure Kids and the thousands of children they help each year.”

Prior to the event all teams participating in the Accor Queenstown $10 Challenge have to raise $7,000 for Cure Kids. Funds raised will be used for medical research into life-threatening conditions that affect children.

To assist the teams’ fundraising effort the NZDF will be holding a Help Cure Kids Coffee Day on 22 July where all personnel will be asked to donate the cost of a cup of coffee to the teams’ fundraising effort.

“The public are invited to support our teams and can easily donate to the cause using our online fundraising pages on the Cure Kids website www.curekids.org.nz,” said SLT Toulmin.

ENDS

© Scoop Media