For immediate release

Comedy for Cure Kids Raises $1.3million

The TV3 comedy event Red Nose Day: Comedy for Cure Kids ended at midnight (Friday 24 August) raising a massive $1,302,849 for medical research for New Zealand children.

The total far exceeds Cure Kids’ expectations and the event is being hailed a huge success.

One hundred per cent of every dollar donated by the public will go towards child health research that aims to improve children’s quality of life and prolong their life, while ultimately searching for cures.

The star-studded event featured a song written especially for Red Nose Day by international comedysuperstars Flight of The Conchords, with ‘Feel Inside (and Stuff Like That)’ sung by a cast of many of New Zealand’s singing stars. The song and album went to number one on itunes within 90 minutes of it being unveiled on the show.

And the All Blacks showed a playful side in a series of skits. Cure Kids is the official charity of the NZRU and All Blacks.

CEO of Cure Kids, Vicki Lee, says she simply couldn’t believe how generous New Zealanders were and the calibre of the people involved;

“We are really overwhelmed by the generosity of New Zealanders. Comedy for Cure Kids was a New Zealand first and the donations go significantly beyond our expectations,” says Lee.

“You never know which dollar will be the one that helps fund a breakthrough for our precious Kiwichildren. This kind of cash investment will make a tremendous difference.”

The event at Q Theatre, organised by Brooke Howard-Smith, was hosted by 7 Days’ stars Jeremy Corbett and Paul Ego Henwood and included X-Factor style comedy from The Rock’s Leah Panapa and New Zealand’s Next Top Model host Colin Mathuree-Jeffree, and it was won by The Block’s Mark Richardson. There were also Red Nose Day themed episodes of Would I Lie to You? and Jono and Ben At Ten.

“It’s just amazing seeing so many Kiwis come together to make this show but even more incredible to see everybody joining in and giving on the night,” says Howard-Smith.

“So many people made this happen, from all the schools that rolled up their sleeves and fund raised through to the who’s who of comedians and other iconic Kiwis,” he says.

“It’s fair to stay that we’re already looking forward to 2014 when Comedy for Cure Kids will be back even bigger and better.”
New Zealanders can still donate to Cure Kids – either online www.curekids.org.nz or by buying the Flight of the Conchord’s single ‘Feel Inside (and stuff like that) on iTunes.
ENDS

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