Media Release

15 May 2007

Chris Cairns Foundation Appointment

The Chris Cairns Foundation has appointed Patrick Jackson to the position of Charity Manager.

The Chris Cairns Foundation was launched earlier this year at a star-studded dinner in Auckland with attendees including Earl Spencer, and Richie Benaud and Prime Minister Rt Hon. Helen Clark.

The aim of the Foundation is to increase rail safety awareness. In 1993 three young women lost their lives, including Chris’s sister Louise after a truck failed to stop at a crossing and hit the train they were travelling in.

Last year Chris Cairns came out in support of a number of Toll NZ rail safety initiatives including the police in cabs scheme and last year saw level crossing accidents drop to their lowest number in 30 years.

Chris is keen to see further rail safety initiatives carried out and to ensure this occurs he has established this Foundation and sees the appointment of Patrick as a further step to ensure this work is carried out.

Chris Cairns says, “The appointment of Patrick Jackson allows the Foundation to see it’s initiatives carried out on a daily basis. It also means all the good work that has been done by many people to get the Foundation off the ground now has someone charged solely with concentrating on our strategic goals.”

Patrick who comes from an event and sporting background will also be coordinating the fund raising walk Chris intends to do next year from Auckland to Rolleston the site of where his sister died. The exact timing of the walk and details will be announced later this year.

ends

© Scoop Media