Sharp supports Children’s Camp by holding an annual fundraising golf tournament that has raised over $45,000 in three years.
Philip Kearney, Chief Executive of Arthritis New Zealand – Kaiponapona Aotearoa explains the funds go towards the Children’s Camp event, which invites children with JIA (Juvenile idiopathic arthritis) and their parents to a weekend filled with activities and support.Â
“Sharp’s support for Children’s Camp is massively helpful. Each year (besides 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19) we fly or drive about 30 kids and their parent or guardian to TĹŤtara Springs in Matamata, and it’s a weekend that we have where the parents and child don’t need to pay for anything.”
Whilst arthritis is often associated with older people, it can happen to kids and teens too. Philip says the difficult thing about JIA is it’s not a disability that you can diagnose right away. Kids affected often need to take a number of tests and it could take 3 to 6 months for the child to be diagnosed with arthritis.
“You can imagine parents one day just suddenly discovering that their child can’t move. Literally, they will be running around one day and the next day it’s almost like, everything’s stopped.
So what the camp does is firstly bring kids together, and they get a chance to play but they also get a chance to learn and have an amazing time. But the other thing is the parents can get together. We try to bring some parents back a second time because often they can support the new parents,” says Philip.
Arthritis affects more than 700,000 people in New Zealand. To find out more about Sharp and the work they do in New Zealand, click here or visit their website: www.sharp.net.nz
Sharp is committed to making a positive contribution to local communities, from local schools, charities and Not-for-Profit organisations. Arthritis New Zealand sends a big thank you for their ongoing support for our Children’s Camps.
The original press release from Sharp can be found here.
