New Zealand Defence Force

Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

28 November 2006

Linton Camp Comrades and Community to Cash Up for Cancer

Members of the Palmerston North community are invited to visit Linton Camp on Saturday 2nd December when the Camp will take on a carnival atmosphere in their quest to add an additional $10,000 to the Nathan Blackler Trust, set up to benefit the children of Sergeant Nathan Blackler.

SGT Blackler, an Army Physical Training instructor, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2001 and despite a strong battle, his condition has recently been diagnosed as terminal. In 2004 during a period of remission, SGT Blackler walked from Auckland to Christchurch carrying a military issue pack weighing 25kg, raising $60,000 for the Cancer Society.

Lieutenant Colonel Evan Williams, the carnival’s coordinator, describes SGT Blackler as an incredibly selfless individual, who has given a great deal, with no expectation of anything in return. "It’s now our turn to get behind Nathan and support his family during this difficult time. The Camp is fully committed to making ‘Blackball Weekend’ a fundraising success, and we’d love to have the support of the wider Palmerston North community too.”

Soldiers, local businesses and Palmerston North City Council members will begin a 24 hour relay at 1pm on Friday 1st December, with carnival events kicking off at the Camp on Saturday from 9am. Members of the public can enjoy traditional carnival rides, as well as the opportunity to ride in the Army’s eight wheeled Light Armoured Vehicles and the six wheeled Pinzgauer Light Operational vehicles for a gold coin donation (vehicle rides start at 11am).

As well as rides, there will be plenty for members of the public to lend their enthusiasm and cheering towards – the final stages of the 24 hour relay, a corporate team building activity run by Army physical training instructors, and the chance to bag a bargain before Christmas in a monster garage sale starting at 11am.

“With the help of the community, we’ll reach our $10,000 target. The Linton Camp community and the wider Palmerston North community can join together to make this a fun and focussed fund raising family day which will support a very good cause,” said Lieutenant Colonel Williams.

ENDS

BACKGROUND

Sergeant Nathan Blackler joined the New Zealand Army in January 1991, and was first diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2001. He has undergone two bone marrow transplants. After his first transplant, Nathan went into remission, during this period Nathan walked from Auckland to Christchurch carrying a military issue pack weighing 25kg, raising $60,000 for the Cancer Society.

Unfortunately Nathan came out of his period of remission shortly after completing the Auckland to Christchurch walk, and after a second unsuccessful bone marrow transplant, his condition has been diagnosed as terminal.

The Nathan Blackler Trust aims to raise $10 000 from the carnival which will top up the Trust to $30 000. The Trust was set up to provide funding for tertiary study for Nathan’s two children in the future.

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