Media Release
23 October 2003
For immediate release

Colour it Orange for Blind Week

Colour is a wonderful thing. With spring comes crisp greens, blue skies, pink blossom, and this year … fluoro-orange to several New Zealand centres.

On 28 October, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind’s (RNZFB) launches its 43rd annual Blind Week appeal with a fanfare of orange.

It’s a hard colour to miss, which is exactly what this appeal is all about.

Jeanette Manson, RNZFB Divisional Fundraising Manager says, “For the duration of Blind Week, everything is going to be as bright as possible, taking the Blind Week message of “We can’t afford for you not to see us” to as wide an audience as possible.

“From New Zealand’s largest city in the north, to our southern-most city, look out for our collectors and our landmarks!

“Apart from our posters, stickers and collectors’ garb being unmissable, in various towns and cities during Blind Week the RNZFB is also lighting landmarks and water features bright orange to highlight our message.”

In Auckland, keep your eyes peeled for a fluorescent splash of colour on the water-front as the Mission Bay fountain lights up orange.

In Rotorua, one of New Zealand’s premiere heritage buildings, the historic Bathhouse is going to be awash in orange hues as it does its bit to help raise awareness for Blind Week.

In Wellington, the Carter Fountain in Oriental Bay, a source of pride for the Harbour Capital, is coming to the party as it glows for what promises to be an impressive view from the top of Mount Victoria.

In Christchurch, more popularly known as New Zealand’s garden city, has organised to have its own classic icon, the artistic Ferrier Fountain at the Town Hall infused with orange lights.

And Invercargill will mark Blind Week by illuminating the top of its famous Water Tower, as it looks forward to the sunshine and warmth of summer.

The RNZFB could not have completed this national colour connection without the generosity, support and enthusiasm of the Auckland City Council, Rotorua Bathhouse, Wellington City Council, Christchurch City Council and the Invercargill City Council, who have made the project come to life for the RNZFB.

The 2003 Blind Week appeal is from Tuesday 28 October – Monday 3 November and aims to raise $1 million for essential services for blind and vision-impaired New Zealanders.

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