Media Release
Friday 17 August 2007
For immediate use

TSS Earnslaw charity cruise raises $1500 for Wakatipu youth group

Locals raised $1500 for an under-funded Wakatipu District Youth Trust programme by turning out in force for a TSS Earnslaw charity cruise on 22 July.

The money will help secure the future of the trust’s boys’ programme, which is not currently receiving any public funding.

Real Journeys Queenstown Operations Manager Andrew Husheer said he was delighted with the numbers who took part. “As a locally owned company, it’s always great to be able to get involved in something like this. The trust does an excellent job in Queenstown – but it really needs help to keep up its current work.”

During the charity cruise day, locals cruised on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw at a special rate of just $20 per adult and $5 per child. For every ticket sold on the day – whether or not it was sold as part of the charity cruise - $5 was donated to the Wakatipu District Youth Trust.

Wakatipu District Youth Trust chairperson Tanya Surrey said she was thrilled at the support from locals She said the trust’s youth groups were attracting a lot of interest from local teenagers this year and the charity cruise money would allow the groups to continue through into next year.

“The number of kids we are dealing with has doubled in the last five years, so the support of local businesses and residents is invaluable - without it, we simply wouldn’t exist.”

The Wakatipu District Youth Trust was established in 1998 and aims to support local youth by building confidence and encouraging team building. The trust provides a range of activity-based programmes as well as individual support and mentoring.

ENDS

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