“I need to sit down… I can’t quite believe this!”

It’s safe to say our CanFish event in March made a splash with our rangatahi!

The day kicked off with a fishing competition on the sparkling Hauraki Gulf – gorgeous snapper, kahawai, and trevally all made the day’s tally. Once on dry land, a cruise in classic cars down to Maraetai Beach Boatclub was followed by an exciting prize ceremony. Sir Graham Henry even made an appearance on the day!

All of this was made possible because of our amazing supporters, with a special acknowledgment of Mike Deverell from Barfoot & Thompson. Their planning, fundraising, and support allowed us to help 25 of our young people escape the daily stresses of cancer.

It was an especially marked event as it followed a year of additional anxiety and often isolation due to coronavirus and lockdown measures. Some young people did not experience the comfort and reassurance of having whānau with them in treatments or appointments, whilst others missed out on irreplaceable last weeks or days with siblings or parents dying of cancer.

Thank you to the skippers, the Maraetai Classic Car Club, the Maraetai Beach Boat Club, and all of the sponsors.

Our cancer support community events provide rangatahi with opportunities to connect with peers that are going through similar situations. Head over to Canteen Connect to view our upcoming events.