26 october 2005

Barnardos prepares for Big Toddle - November 2005

Throughout November, young children around New Zealand will put their best foot forward for Barnardos Big Toddle.

“This is the first year that Barnardos New Zealand has organised the Big Toddle and it is shaping up to be the biggest, brightest and best fundraising event for the under five’s in the country,” says Murray Edridge, the Chief Executive of Barnardos New Zealand.

“The Big Toddle aims to get a record number of children walking their way to health and fitness while raising funds for Barnardos community and family services as well as their own group.”

All groups of under-five-year-olds are welcome to join in the Big Toddle. So far 116 groups (with more than 5000 children) have signed on and are either organising their own Toddles or joining one of the Barnardos-hosted Big Toddles being held in Auckland, Gisborne and Christchurch.

“The overriding aim of Barnardos is to work with children and families to ensure that children experience a cycle of success through effective care, support and education,” says Murray.

“We are really excited to see the numbers of young children’s groups and their local communities keen to help us achieve this aim.”

The money raised will help Barnardos continue to provide its child-focused services which include: home based support for families under stress; parent education; supervision of contact visits between children and their non custodial parents; and programmes for children affected by domestic violence.

Big Toddles will be held in:

Auckland at Cranwell Park, Henderson, on Friday, 11 November from 10.00am to 12.00 noon

(postponement date 18 November).

Gisborne at the Botanical Gardens on Tuesday, 15 November from 10.00am to 12.00 noon.

Christchurch at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Friday, 18 November from 10.00am to 12.00 noon.

ENDS

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