$40,000 raised in Heroic Gardens festival

PRESS RELEASE: April 5, 2007

$40,000 raised in Heroic Gardens festival

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation’s Burnett Centre says it’s delighted to accept a $40,000 donation to its Wellness Fund, courtesy of this year’s Heroic Gardens Festival.

The $40,000 cheque was presented by Heroic Gardens organiser Shane Neal at a special get-together held at NZAF’s National Office in Auckland on March 23rd.

The Wellness Fund provides direct individual care and support for all those living with HIV in Auckland, irrespective of age, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

“We’re very grateful for this donation, and to all those who opened their garden gates to the public,” says Burnett Centre Regional Manager Wayne Otter. “The pool of people living with HIV in Auckland is growing year by year, putting increased demand on the limited number of services assisting those living with the virus.”

Heroic Gardens is an annual event, now in its tenth year, which has become an essential part of Auckland’s summer calendar. A diverse range of private gardens all over Auckland City are opened up to the public to enjoy, the entry fees going towards HIV/AIDS causes.

177 new HIV diagnoses were recorded in 2006, the second-highest year on record. Gay and bisexual men continue to remain the highest risk group, representing 80% of new diagnoses in 2006 where infection occurred in New Zealand.

ENDS

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