Raising Awareness Of Endometriosis

Zonta Club of Christchurch To Help Raise Awareness of Endometriosis, ‘A disease that can severely short change quality of life and compromise fertility.”

Former All Black Grahame Thorne will speak at the Zonta Club of Christchurch Canterbury's fundraising evening at Rydges Hotel to help raise funds for Endometriosis Foundation.

Zonta Club of Christchurch is very appreciative of Grahame Thorne taking time to speak at its fundraising dinner. He and his wife Briony moved to Christchurch this year to care for their son, David.

David Thorne (20), suffered a stroke following a rugby match in Motueka in early May this year and has sub sequential been at Burwood Hospital Brain Injury Unit ever since. David’s life threatening injury has raised awareness of sporting accidents and will be of particular interest to all those involved in sport. Sports injuries are on the increase and ACC reports over 87,000 sports related injuries in 2004.
Endometriosis to, has an unparalleled prevalence rate with a reported 128,000 girls and women in New Zealand alone but a reported incidence of 1 in 5, there is a staggering costs of at least $275 million per year in lost work productivity due to the severity of the symptoms.

The New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation Inc (NZEF) was awarded the Commonwealth Award in Excellence in Women’s Health and has initiated internationally recognised world leading programmes addressing issues related to this disease. Deborah Bush, QSM, Chief Executive and co-founder of the NZEF has been invited to address global audiences about these programmes over the last 7 years including an invitation to present in the House of Commons, London in 2004.

Zonta's fundraising efforts will help the Endometriosis Foundation education programmes. The NZEF school educational ‘Me’ programme (Menstrual Health and Endometriosis) is unique to New Zealand with specific focus in Canterbury. Recent statistics reveal an overwhelming 300% increase in young women under 19 presenting with symptoms as a result of this education. 90% of those having laparoscopy have had confirmed diagnosis. This is supported by research from Canberra released in September ‘05 reporting 24% of girls’ aged 16-18 missing school because of menstrual dysfunction with 23% rating their pain as debilitating. Endometriosis is not discriminatory and has a severe affect on quality of life and fertility with many women and girls still struggling to obtain a correct and prompt diagnosis.
" Zonta is proud to assist the foundation in its effort to shift the paradigm of complacency, enabling awareness in Canterbury to be increased, reaching thousands of women and girls in our region who suffer with this condition",
said Sharon Lingham- Zonta's Publicity Chairperson.
Zonta would like to acknowledge and thank Phil McGoldrick of Harcourts for his ongoing support as auctioneer. The fundraising dinner auction is to be held at Rydges Hotel on Wednesday 23 August at 6.30pm. $75 includes a scrumptious three-course meal, a welcome complementary glass of bubbly, great company and fantastic lineup of auction items including sports memorabilia, 3 nights BBX accommodation at Alpine Lodge Wanaka, a vasectomy, Julian Harding jewellery, full gynaecology health check, art work and sculpture. Ticket available from Glenda phone 379 4420 or visit www.sharonlingham.com .

Zonta International is an organisation of business and professional women working together to advance the status of women globally through service and advocacy. The word Zonta is derived from a Sioux Indian word meaning honest and trustworthy.
Briony Thorne is also a Zonta member in Nelson.

ENDS.

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