For immediate release

September 4 , 2013

Tv One’s Simon Dallow Cheerleader For Kiwi Kids

“If we all put $5 in we can change one young man’s life” says Dallow

Simon Dallow may be best known as the face of TV One News, but the famous broadcaster will leave his smart suit at home come September 20, as he joins up with the Variety Bash car rally to raise funds for Kiwi kids who need a hand-up and wields a paintbrush and spade at working bees in several rural Waikato schools.

Key to his involvement this year is young Samisoni Fuavao, a 14-year-old schoolboy with cerebral palsy whose caregivers are struggling to keep up with the typical growth spurts of a Kiwi teen.

Rugby-lover Samisoni is already 1.98 metres tall and uses a walker and standing frame to get about, and play table tennis and cricket, plus a treadmill to strengthen his legs.

But a Rifton Support Station is also needed so he can better access his Otahuhu school’s bathroom, and Dallow has got right behind the drive to raise the $6000 to buy it.

“We’re hoping folk will forego today’s coffee, or that extra slice of cake, and head to the website fundraising page with their $5 instead,” says Simon; “just select ‘other’ and follow the directions, every little really does count.”

The long-time supporter and Vice Patron of Variety – The Children’s Charity says it fills a vital role by plugging the small gaps that make a difference; the specialist computer for a deaf or dyslexic kid, the insulin pump or the specialised trike that makes all the difference to kids, yet can be that step too far for the ordinary Kiwi parent’s budget.

And it fills the gaps in our more vulnerable schools too, where parents do the best they can to bring their kids up right, but can’t stretch to that extra dollar above the basic minimum.

“It’s great to see this band of classic-car lovers get behind the ordinary Kiwi battler, raising funds and bringing a bit of fun to these kids’ lives. Many of the kids who benefit don’t need much of a hand-up, but without Variety – and the guys and girls who spend all year raising funds, and then take their cars on the Variety Bash Car Rally – they won’t get that little bit of support to help them be the best they can be.”

Simon and actor Mark Wright will be along on the Variety Mini-Bash as it starts out on September 20. Keep an eye out on the website and facebook page for details of the route, and meantime why not skip that coffee today, and join Simon Dallow by logging on to https://minibash2013.everydayhero.com/nz/samisoni and giving a kid a hand.

Variety Mini Bash – September 20-22

Simisoni Fuavao – his smile lights up a room say teachers at his Richmond Special School

ENDS

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