Kia ora   

Being diagnosed with cancer can be one of the most difficult situations a person will ever face in their lifetime.  The Cancer Society works to ensure that anyone affected by cancer can make the right health care decisions. We visit people in their homes, answer their questions, and develop individualised plans that suit them and their support needs.

We draw on our experience and work with other organisations and social service agencies in the community. Our services are available to anyone with any cancer and their family/whanau. If you or someone you care about has cancer,  our caring and experienced healthcare staff are here to support you.

There are many examples of how we support people with cancer in our community.  Melissa from North Otago was diagnosed with cancer and quoted "Leanne, from the Cancer Society has been my rock of guidance and understanding, and I am so fortunate that I reached out. She helped me understand the medical process and is a wonderfully empathetic listener. After struggling for months to find support for my son, Leanne set up counselling for him that same day.  Leanne coordinated my 'Earth Angel' Cancer Society volunteer Rayna, who—even with COVID-19 restrictions—managed to be loving support. I had food dropped off and uplifting text messages, and she is always there if I need her. Rayna understands my son Flynn, and he adores her. She will be forever in my life now."

Please reach out, we are here to help, no one should face cancer alone.  Our caring and experienced health care staff are here to support anyone who is going through cancer.

We're all feeling massively relieved to have made our Smokefree coalition oral submissions to the Health Select Committee (if you haven't seen them you can watch them here). We were very pleased to see so many of the organisations and people we worked with and encouraged to make submission also submit written or oral presentations on the Smokefree Bill. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Thank you all. A Māori whakataukī proverb - E kore, a muri, e hokia, there is no turning back, we can only go forward.

We provided smokefree info packs and support for the NZ Merino Shearing and Woolhandling Championships 2022 and hauora event held over the first weekend of October in Alexandra. The smokefree mahi was warmly embraced and welcomed by the competitors.

Our Health Promotion team is scheduled to present to the Committee on behalf of our local coalitions in the coming weeks, and the Cancer Society presented late last month You can watch the Cancer Society submission here (from approx 6.45m onwards).

We were so proud to have Rebecca and Lucy represent the Cancer Society's collective voice.

Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa – Thank you to everyone who added their voice to this important cause.

We are excited to introduce to you all our newest member of our work whānau, Nicola Keast – known as Nic. Nic joined the Community Support team in the Southland on Monday 17th of October.

Coming with a varied background working in the health care sector, Nic is a registered nurse and brings with her a wide range of skills and experience. With a busy life at home Nic is looking forward to maintaining a good work life balance, whilst working in the community making a tangible difference to those who are in need of our support.

We received a wonderful donation of beautifully packaged toiletries for cancer clients who are struggling at home or who are unexpectedly in hospital for a long stay with no friends or family nearby. 

The toiletries came from Christina King, President of the Dunedin South club Inner Wheel who has coordinated the donations which are from the Southern District. Members brought the donated items to a District Meeting and Christina's role on the District is to initiate a charitable cause.  

They will be a wonderful pick-me-up for clients.

Photo: Janice (left) and Noelene

"It's nice to be able to do something for the Cancer Society"

A group of students from Longford Intermediate in Gore decided that baking for families affected by cancer, was a great way to meet the community service component of their William Pike challenge as well as helping a great cause.  So, with recipes and support provided by some of the Cancer Society's fabulous volunteers, the team donned their aprons and hit the kitchen for a few hours.

Raising money for their ingredients from the sale of daffodils and their homemade ice cream, the bakers made a range of delights – caramel and chocolates brownies, caramel square, American crunch and apricot slice.  They really impressed their supporters with the skills that they showed – even deciding that the only way to make caramel, was from scratch with 'it tastes so much better when you make your own.'

Gore Supportive Care Nurse, Aynsley Dermody is looking very forward to sharing the baking with those in the Gore Community affected by cancer and their whanau.  As one students said, 'we are sure the families will enjoy receiving a pack of our baking'.

www.theensign.co.nz/community/pupils-bake-for-charity

The Team are keen to do another batch of baking before the end of the school year.

We are looking forward to being at your next event – Breakfast with Tori Peeters on 28 October in Gore, which has all funds raised being another Daffodil Day contribution to the Cancer Society.

Booking: Contact Shelley for tickets on 027 540 6645

Well done Longford – you rock!! 

Join our 1st annual Marathon In A Month 👟Get active for the future!

Walk, run, bike, swim, row, or roll... Choose any distance-based activity and complete 42 km in November, and fundraise to make a difference in cancer care and research!

It only takes 1.4 km each day to achieve. Too easy? Challenge yourself or your team to take on multiple marathons!

Join today as an individual or team - sign up your whānau, workmates, or commit to making difference on your own. 

Sign up now at www.marathoninamonth.org.nz

Our Naylor Love & Cancer Society Hollywood Glamour Ball will be held on Saturday, 12 November 2022, at the Memorial Centre.  

Don't miss an exciting night of glitz and glamour with Jonathon Usher as MC and a line-up of fabulous entertainment.

North Otago, Wanaka, and Otago Students Relay For Life events are coming up in March 2023, so start recruiting your team today!

Relay For Life events are an inspiring community experience that gives everyone a chance to celebrate/whakanui cancer survivors and carers; remember/maumaharatia loved ones lost to cancer; and fight back/tū atu by raising awareness and funds for the Cancer Society of Otago and Southland.

Online registrations will open in early November.

Takaro Park, Oamaru

4th March 2023

2pm – 9pm

Pembroke Park

18 – 19th March 2023

3pm – 11am

University Clocktower, Dunedin

25 – 26th March 2023

6pm – 6am

Invercargill's Peter Grandiek has been training hard to do a bike ride from Mossburn to the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill on Sunday, 23 October. Peter has been doing charity rides for his birthday for the past eight years — this time he is raising money for the Cancer Society.

Read the ODT article here: www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/91st-birthday-fundraising-bike-ride

Your time, energy, and fundraising help us support community wellbeing by reducing the incidence and impact of cancer. We couldn't do it without you! Thank you to our recent community-led fundraisers:

Gore Muscle Car Club – Southland – $2,340 

Southland Rugby collections – Southland – $2,715 

Mikayla's haircut for a wig – Southland – $1,177

Shave Ali and ray's Head! – Central Otago – $532

Arana 2022 – Be Bold be Bald! – Dunedin – $6,550

Naomi Anderson 1k For Cancer Mullet – Dunedin – $1,020

Greta lops her locks – Dunedin – $2,092 

Clinton Young Farmers Club quiz night – South Otago – $6,000

Our fundraisers have done some pretty amazing things to raise money for cancer—and they're thinking of new things to do every day. What will you do?

No one should face cancer alone. Over the last year, our Cancer Supportive Care Team have supported over 1400 people and their families impacted by cancer. We provide our clients with support groups, and workshops and assistance in navigating the health care services pathway.  We also offer practical support to people and their wider family/whanau.

Thank you to Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Bendigo Sports & Charitable Trust, Dunedin City Council, Lion Foundation, and the William Sheriff Charitable Trust for providing funding over the last month.  We appreciate your support so we can help so many more people impacted by cancer. 

Marketing Admin Support, Dunedin

We are looking for an energetic, self-motivated and organised person who can develop and maintain our fundraising CRM database. This is a permanent, part-time (20 hours) role.

Learn more at 
www.cancer.org.nz/marketing-admin-dunedin