Half-arsed febfast heats up fundraising

With fourteen days gone and fourteen to go there is still time to do a half-arsed febfast, febfast coordinator Jackson Wood said today.

“Sign up today to press pause on alcohol for the next 14 days. It’s a bit half-arsed, but it’ll still give your body and your wallet a good break,” Mr Wood said.

“Even if you don’t sign up, you can still get behind the cause by supporting those who are febfasting and donate toward bolstering drug information services for New Zealand’s young peeps.

“So far the 239 febfast participants have raised $26,000 — so we’re a quarter of the way to our target of $100,000.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from febfasters saying the first fourteen days have been a breeze and they’re looking forward to the second half.

“This should encourage all those people who think it would be too hard to take a break from alcohol for a month that it’s not that hard.”

Mr Wood said people were putting in a lot of effort into raising money for the redevelopment of the Get the MSG! service.

“Big ups to Patrick Leyland who is dominating the fundraisers leader board with a massive $1,045 raised,” Mr Wood said.

“It is great to see so many people supporting the provision of good information about drugs so young New Zealanders are better equipped to make good decisions.”

What febfasters have been telling us on about their month on our facebook page

Survived a cocktail party for a friend's 40th, easier than I thought. I've realised how many people actually don't drink as much as I normally would!

— Kimberley Scott

It wasn't as hard as I thought... managed to play drinking games with water, and didn't lose. Entertaining and productive the next day!

— Clare Birch

I normally drink because I Iike the taste - just a matter of replacing it with something I like - beer substitute is rather hard. Tip from my time last year - drink everything out of a wine glass.

— Grant Henderson

A friend came over and we had Friday night smoothies instead of the usual beers. If this hot weather continues smoothies may be the order of the month!

— Elizabeth Heeg

Went to social events and said "No thank you" to wine - enjoyed my zero lemonade - feel empowered.

— Trish Delamore

ENDS

Febfast Ambassadors

• Sarah Walker — New Zealand Olympic medal winner, BMX rider
• Ben Crawford — Winner of The Block NZ and Creative brand builder
• Jono Pryor — Radio host, co-host of Jono and Ben at 10, Husband, father, pasty, bald
• Jamie Gough — Christchurch City Councillor and all-round cool guy
• Scott Waldrom — Rugby Player for Taranaki and the Chiefs
• Guy Williams — Comedian, Writer, TV Personality.
• Niki Bezzant — Editor of the Health Food Guide, Sunday Star Times Columnist, food lover.
• Maisey Rika — Songstress, APRA nominated, and Waiata Maori Music Award Winner
• Hamish Coleman-Ross — RadioLIVE producer and host, media mercenary
• Dr Jackie Blue — National Party list MP
• Iain Lees-Galloway — Labour MP for Palmerston North
• Metiria Turei — MP and Co-leader for the Green Party.

Full bios and links to their fundraising pages are here: http://nzdrug.org/febfastambassadors

Febfast facts

• 2013 will be the third year the Drug Foundation has run febfast in New Zealand.
• In 2011 febfast raised $107,175 and $107,714 in 2012
• In 2012 over 650 people participated.
• The money raised in 2012 went towards supporting youth alcohol and other drug services across New Zealand.
• The money raised in 2013 will go towards redeveloping the Get the MSG! text information service. More info on Get the MSG is here http://nzdrug.org/febfastfunds
• We have apps! iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/febfast-nz/id581387020?mt=8
  Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.artez.febfestnz#?t=W10