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Thursday 28 March 2024
All winners at charity battle
Myeloma Awareness
Fundraiser for Myeloma NZ and Rānui House: from left, Jean Edmondson, Peggy Packard, Chrissie, Jessica and Leon Moleta. Photo: Joyce Wyllie. JOYCE WYLLIE
The final battle: GB Football Friends (in hooped shirts) and GBAFC face off in Sunday's decider at The Wholemeal Café Battle For The Bay. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
On Sunday afternoon, at the end of The Battle For The Bay, event organiser Phil Smith summed up what had been a weekend festival of fun, football and fundraising, in which everyone came out a winner. “So many teams, so many people, so many games.” The recently “retired” president of Golden Bay Association Football Club (GBAFC) was speaking shortly after announcing the home senior side as winners of the tournament, and thanking all those who had participated and supported the event. The two-day tournament began on Saturday at 9.30am when the first three matches kicked off simultaneously at the Rec Park. During the day, a total of two dozen 30-minute matches were contested with each team playing four games, followed by a similar schedule of slightly shorter fixtures on Sunday. The 12 participating sides from across the region, were joined on Saturday by Special Olympics team The Firebirds and a squad of Tākaka rugby players who had switched codes for the day. One of those in the mixed team, club senior coach Hamish Hills, said although
they were “not good soccer players” they had enjoyed playing with a round ball for a change. “It was good fun and for a really good cause.” The team even managed to register a win, but Hamish didn’t anticipate any of his players making the switch permanent. Phil was very appreciative of their support. “Those guys and gals are fabulous humans for joining in the fun.” A very full day on Saturday finished with speeches, presentations and the raffle draw. Underlining the main focus of the event, co-founder of Hope Is My Homeboy Rutu King-Hazel, who had just had a baby five days earlier, talked about the importance of looking out for each other and how her mental health and suicide prevention charity came about. Amongst the presentations made, new GBAFC president Chris Thurston awarded Phil lifetime membership of the club, something Phil said would take time to sink in. “I don't know how to react to it, was very, very moving.” The next morning, taking a breather on the sideline, Mapua Rangers club president Donna Griffith and her team were in good spirits. “It’s always a good vibe here,” said Donna adding
that the club was very keen to support the event. Her team had another reason to be cheerful, having won a good sportsmanship award, along with a voucher for Roots Bar which they had spent the previous evening. Further along the sideline, the team from Tahuna were resting their tired limbs. Skipper Stu Mountain was full of praise for the event. “It’s been great; the community’s been fantastic, it’s a lovely setting for a tournament, and the organisation’s brilliant.” In the meantime, the action continued on the two main pitches. On the top field, the young Pumas were ruffling feathers in a battle with the senior Tahuna Flamingos. Despite the age and size mis-match, the 13- and 14-yearolds gave the adults a good run for their money. Pointing out his side’s achievement of one win, two draws and three losses over the weekend, Pumas’ coach Flori Dahl said he was “very positive” about their prospects for the upcoming season. In the early afternoon, the tournament reached its climax as the two top teams – both from Golden Bay – took to the pitch for a... Continued on page 9
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March is Myeloma Awareness Month, and mum-and-daughter team Chrissie and Jessica Moleta have been actively fundraising and sharing information about this form of cancer. They spent last week at FreshChoice, Tākaka selling cupcakes, cuppas, raffles, and pretty bouquets created by Jessica, and, on Saturday, they hosted a “painting picnic” at Jessica's home. Funds raised will be divided between Myeloma NZ, which is a great support to the Moleta family, and Rānui House in Christchurch – “a home away from home” for them and many other Golden Bay families during their time of need. It has "a vision to cure and a mission to care", and provides accommodation for patients and whānau undergoing life-saving medical treatments in the city. When Jessica finishes her bright, colourful communal work of art, that visitors helped to create during the painting picnic, it will be donated to Rānui House. Myeloma is difficult to diagnose as there are a wide range of symptoms. It is a blood cancer affecting plasma cells, so initially it impacts the immune system. There is no known cure, and the disease affects about 3,000 New Zealanders, two of whom live in Golden Bay. It is the second most common blood cancer, with some patients living for many years. One of Myeloma NZ’s aims is to improve the quality of life and survival of people living with the disease, to advocate for more research funding, and to raise awareness and understanding among the public. With the disease being so difficult to diagnose, the important message is that anyone with any concerns, should not put off seeing their doctor. For those who missed Chrissie and Jessica's cake stall and raffles, donations can still be made at: https://givealittle. co.nz/org/myelomanz or https://bmct.org. nz/donate-to-ranui. March may be Myeloma Awareness Month, but the above organisations need support every month of the year in order to help care for people facing serious illness.
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THE GB WEEKLY, THURSDAY 28 MARCH 2024
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ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
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