"It's not just the money you give us, it's also the support you've all given, which makes all the difference. Thank you so very much," said Hospice NZ Chairman Wilf Martley tonight as he accepted a $30,000 cheque from the Heroic Gardens crew. Kind donation: Hospice NZ Chairman Wilf Martley with Heroic Gardens' Eric Walton 23 gardens, grown and cared for by Auckland's LGBT gardeners from Piha to Howick, Whangaparoa Peninsula to Mangere, sold 1,000 tickets to the 13th annual Heroic Gardens weekend tour, held in March. Eric Walton of the Heroic Gardens group handed over the cheque at a small function at the Mercy Hospice in Ponsonby tonight, attended by several gardeners who opened their properties to hundreds of people during the Heroic Gardens weekend. Co-founded in 1997 by The Fifth Season gardening group and the Gay Auckland Business Association,the Heroic Gardens tour began as a fundraiser for Auckland City Mission's Herne Bay House, a respite and treatment centre for people living with HIV and AIDS. Walton says he's pleased to continue the tradition of the Gardens tour raising money for people living with illness. Hospice NZ provides care for people living with terminal illnesses and supports their family and friends. With 28 Hospices around New Zealand, 13,000 patients last year, and $71 million operating costs, Hospice NZ is only partially government funded, so relies on donations from the community. "We're here to enhance quality of life for people who need it," said Wilf Martley at tonight's event."Or services are free to all patients, from any part of the community, we don't discriminate against anyone."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Thursday, 28th May 2009 - 11:57pm