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Hadassah Walk in Auckland Raises $29,000 for Hospital

Blue skies and warm sun proved the perfect recipe for a charity walk in Auckland recently to raise funds for Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel.

The New Zealand branch of Hadassah International organised the sponsored walk held on Sunday the 9th of November which was led by Olympic gold medal rowers Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell. The nine kilometer walk aimed to raise money for the Valda Knight Memorial nursing station in the new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower in the hospital. More tan 250 participants from young children through to teenagers, parents and grandparents gathered at Madill’s Farm in Kohimarama for the prewalk photograph. The walkers proceeded along Auckland’s waterfront through to Okahu Bay and back.

The walk ended at the Eastern Bays soccer clubrooms with kosher refreshments of rolls filled with smoked salmon (kindly sponsored by Regal Salmon) and cream cheese, Danny’s pita crisps with hummus and biscuits and pretzels donated by Premium foods.

“Hadassah’s strength is its people,” said the President of the NZ branch of Hadassah International President Jennifer Leiman who took over the role as President when its founder Valda Knight sadly passed away last year. An amazing $29,000 was raised and in her thank you speech she expressed Hadassah’s gratitude to all sponsors. Prizes were awarded to those walkers attracting the highest amount of sponsorship money. Participants sported specially printed t-shirts with the picture of a green dove on the front and names of the walk’s official sponsors – Thalgo beauty products, Voyage Affaires travel agents in Parnell, and Naturebee – on the back.

Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem is noted for its policy of treating all patients regardless of ethnicity or religion. Jennifer said she was delighted at the level of support for the walk which showed warmth and feeling for the hospital which was a “bridge to peace”.