Amberley Fire Brigade taking the plunge to support mental health
The Amberley Fire Brigade is diving headfirst into a 24-hour swimming challenge to support those battling mental health struggles.
This weekend - February 24 and 25 - the team will brave the waters of Amberley Pool, symbolising the resilience required to navigate mental health challenges.
"As frontline responders, we witness the toll that mental health challenges take on individuals and families. We wanted to do something physically demanding to symbolise the strength needed to overcome these struggles,” Chris Reeves, one of the organising firefighters participating in the swim, said.
To kick off the fundraising initiative, the brigade will host a Gala Dinner on Friday, February 23.
Hosted by league star Richie Barnett, the event promises live music, delectable cuisine, and a live auction featuring exclusive items.
The Gala aims to raise funds for youth mental health charity I Am Hope, which currently needs $500,000 monthly to provide essential counselling services through its Gumboot Friday platform.
“The commitment and determination shown by the Amberley Fire Brigade in organising this event and taking on a gruelling challenge and organising this massive dinner is legendary. Their efforts will make a huge difference in supporting our mission to provide free counselling and mental health support to young people across New Zealand," I Am Hope founder Mike King said.
“We owe it to these amazing people in our community, like the Amberley Fire Brigade, for keeping our support going strong for kids who need it most."
Reeves encouraged local businesses and individuals to show their support by booking tables or sponsoring the event.
"This glamorous evening promises to be the highlight of the calendar, and we urge the community to join us in our mission to support mental health," he said.
KEY INFORMATION
Gala dinner: February 23, 6p, at the Amberley Tin Shed, Amberley Domain
Swim date: 12pm Saturday, February 24 to 12pm on Sunday, February 25 at Amberley Pool
Price: Table of 10 - $1500
Book your table now by emailing hamish@hpa.co.nz
Sponsorships: Gold - $4000 / Bronze - $2500
Donate: givealittle.co.nz...
Best way to use leftovers?
I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.
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Booster seat
Help family arrived but forgot there booster seat. Anyone out there we could borrow one for 9 days
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
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