Cancer Society and Forest & Bird receive Real Journeys Cruise-for-a-Cause

Media Release

The Real Journeys Cruise-for-a-Cause this year will assist Forest & Bird with predator control and help train the greater number of volunteers needed by the Cancer Society in the Southland and Otago Region.

“We’re the only cancer-related organisation with trained staff on the ground in nine locations across our region: from Invercargill to Oamaru.  The increase in people affected by cancer has meant that demand for our support services has increased 60% in the last two years. Cruise-for-a-Cause will give us much needed funds to provide extra resources and train more volunteers for that support team,” says Rachael Hart, CEO Cancer Society - Otago Southland.

The Cancer Society says it is thrilled to have such a unique fundraising opportunity.  It will receive 100% of the proceeds from selling all 63 places on the Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise on the 16^th September.

“The generosity of Real Journeys will help ensure we are still never more than an hour’s help away from any person in Otago and Southland with any type of cancer,” says Rachael.

The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society already knows the benefits of the Cruise-for-a-Cause initiative having raised almost $18.000 on the Milford Sound trip last year. 

Following its successful campaign Forest and Bird will sell the first Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise of the season on the Fiordland Navigator on 2^nd September.  Forest & Bird Chief Executive Kevin Hague says the funding will support its work towards establishing a Predator Free New Zealand.

“The nightly activity of rats, stoats and possums causes the loss of irreplaceable ancient species in Fiordland and throughout the country. Like the Real Journeys team, Forest & Bird want to share the spectacular wilderness of our incredible country with others and inspire them to join in protecting our unique environment. Funds raised from this once in a lifetime trip to Doubtful Sound will be used to support Forest & Bird’s practical pest-control to protect our unique heritage,” says Kevin.

There were twenty applicants for the Cruise-for-a-Cause initiative which is now in its the third year.  Real Journeys provides the dinner, breakfast and water activities.  So far, Cruise-for-a-Cause has raised a total of $60,000 which has supported the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, Queenstown Lakes Family Trust, Wakatipu High School Foundation and Forest & Bird.