Ice cold for cancer awareness
South Waikato soaks up national challenge
A chilling challenge has gone viral on Facebook and the people of South Waikato are soaking it up.
Tokoroa’s Naima Placid was one of hundreds to participate in the Cancer Society’s latest campaign, the ‘‘ice challenge’’, which has stormed the nation.
The challenge is to place your feet in cold water while buckets of ice water are dumped over you.
And the idea is to complete the challenge and donate $10 to a cancer charity while failing to do so means donating $100.
‘‘I just thought, do I have a spare $100?’’ Placid said.
While she was happy to donate to the Breast Cancer Prevention, she had her own reasons to complete the challenge.
One being ‘‘ Papa Glassie’’ who died from liver cancer a couple of years ago.
‘‘He was like a mentor to me ... when I was having trouble in my own home he would give me advice,’’ she said.
Papa Glassie was not her real dad but had been a father figure to her since she was 13 years old.
Placid had others on her mind during the challenge including her young niece who is a cancer survivor.
And during the challenge she was equipped with a pink bra, face paint and a skirt to acknowledge those with breast cancer.
‘‘One of my first bosses was a survivor of breast cancer and she was always stunning and amazing. She never talked about it and just carried on,’’ she said.
Placid hopes participants will donate as well.
‘‘I think it will do wonders if people donate the $10 or the $100.’’
From July 4 - 14 the Waikato Cancer Society raised close to $56,000, according to communications co-ordinator Sarah Fitzpatrick.
‘‘It’s been massive. There have been lots of people inquiring,’’ she said.
Fitzpatrick said it has smashed the average of five donations a week.
It is ‘‘humbling’’ that people have chosen to donate to the Cancer Society, she said.
The money goes towards Cancer Society driven initiatives including supporting services, the Lions lodge and health promotions. ‘‘The best thing about it is it stays in the region you donate to.’’ Although she was all for the challenge she said it should be done in a safe manner.