Vodafone Warriors Game 12 June 2011

The sun shone down on the 25 Shine volunteers out in force at the Vodafone Warriors vs. Wests Tigers game at Mt. Smart Stadium. Decked out in Shine t-shirts and bright orange caps, they collected at the gates, sold raffle tickets and helped children complete a rugby league inspired word find competition.

In the corporate lounge, Louise Binns, the Chair of Shine's Board of Directors, spoke to 630 attendees about KIDShine. Following this, a Panasonic TV, home theatre unit and cabinet was auctioned for $2,000 with all proceeds going to Shine. We were also able to give a young Warrior’s fan a Nintendo Wii for being the lucky word find competition winner. Both the TV and Nintendo were courtesy of DTR, thank you!

DTR were corporate sponsors for the day, and kindly donated $100 for every point that the Vodafone Warriors scored. With 22 points at the final whistle, DTR presented Shine with a cheque for $2,200.

The most moving moment of the event happened when the 50-strong children’s choir from Wymondley Road School in Otara took to the field and sang the Coldplay song "Fix You". The 15,000 crowd was silent in their support and contemplation of the children’s' message, with more than a few tears shed. A highlight for these kids was being able to go back-stage after the game and meet the Warriors.

> Listen to Wymondley Road School children singing "Fix You"

A big THANK YOU to our volunteers - especially Liz Style and Graham Wall, DTR and the Vodafone Warriors. Thank you to the children singers from Wymondley Road School, and the Watson Foundation for funding their bus trip and goodie bags, as well as to Ross Munro at Canterbury Clothing for donating t-shirts for the children.  Finally, thank you to Stu at Carlton Party Hire who donated 150 orange balloons, and Alicia at XACT Labels for printing and donating the Shine labels that were given to people who donated to Shine during the even.  

You all made this possible for Shine, and your support will make a big difference in the lives of children helped by Shine.