Suncorp Group raises over $2.4 million for cancer research, treatment and prevention
Sunchasers in New Zealand and Australia have smashed their fundraising goals for Spirit to Cure this year, raising more than $2 million combined for cancer research and treatment.
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In its third year of Spirit to Cure fundraising, Suncorp Group has raised just over an incredible $2.4 million, donating those funds to much-needed research, treatment and prevention of cancer.
The final figure donation exceeds the organisation’s ambitious goal of $1.9 million, thanking its 858 New Zealand participants for their $354,000 contribution, and its 3,270 Australian fundraisers for their $1.94 million.
The Australian arm of the Group partners with Tour de Cure, an Australian registered charity which supports people affected by cancer at all stages. The New Zealand arm of Suncorp Group partners with Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand and Cancer Research Trust New Zealand.
As part of the fundraising initiative, Sunchasers are encouraged to participate in physical events across Australia and New Zealand. The most popular event, a 21km walk held in multiple cities across Australia, saw more than 2,640 Suncorp employees and sponsors take part in the event across various sites, while 106 cyclists took to the streets of Byron, Gold Coast and Brisbane to complete their challenge of a three-day, 300km bike ride.
Due to the overwhelming interest and support garnered from last year’s Spirit to Cure, Suncorp Group expanded its fundraising activities and locations this year, holding first-time walk events in Newcastle, Perth and Adelaide. A new challenge was also set for Brisbane’s runners, who would run 50km around Suncorp Stadium in a relay fashion with teammates (or, for those ambitious marathon runners – individually).
#Shelley's story
While Spirit to Cure wasn’t in the job description for Nala, she and owner Shelley Parker took on the 21km Melbourne walk with enthusiasm and tenacity. While the walk for many signifies Suncorp’s commitment to curing cancer, for Shelley – the achievement held personal meaning, representing how far she’s come with the support of man’s best friend.
New Zealand also created several challenges for interested participants, including ‘Step Challenges’ in Wellington and Auckland, challenging registered participants to complete laps around a stadium in those cities, amassing around 5,000 steps per lap. In Christchurch, Sunchasers were challenged to a 5.3km walking trail that winds through 358 private hectares in Christchurch’s Port Hills.
New Zealand saw 858 steppers take to the challenges across the country, an increase from last year’s registered steppers by around 350 people.
For those who wanted to contribute in an alternative way to the fundraising challenge, Suncorp offered a Support Crew role to assist the walkers, riders, runners, steppers and cyclists through their challenges, as well as a ‘Your Ks Your Way’ virtual challenge for participants wanting to complete their own fitness goals for the fundraising event.
The donations fundraised from the events will go directly towards funding the initiatives set by Tour de Cure, Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand and the Cancer Research Trust New Zealand.
