Woodville Lions launch sleep foundation
All our lives depend on sleep.
A septuagenarian friend is proud to say he has spent more than 24 of his interesting life’s years asleep, but sleep science and treatment is a relatively new field.
Up until now it has been hampered through the lack of an effectively loud yet authoritative common voice.
We all have friends who need a better night’s sleep.
Satisfying that need is another of the really big and extremely costly issues our nation faces.
Sufferers of poor sleep health challenge society.
Typically sufferers of Chronic Obstructive Sleep Apnea become statistically significant risks, to themselves and those around them.
Every day, at work, at home and at play COSA creeps up un its unsuspecting victims.
It really is an elusive, silent killer.
Woodville Lions Club is proud to announce that its ground-breaking Sleep Health Support project to bring muchneeded support to the vast number of Kiwis afflicted by sleep disorder.
The club has formed a Charitable Trust to address sleep health.
The Sleep Health Foundation of New Zealand Charitable Trust (SHFNZ) is focused on the full spectrum of issues that, individually or together, compromise a good night’s sleep.
The Foundation, modelled in part on its Australian sister foundation, seeks to drive and support positive action providing relief for those afflicted by sleep disorder, and support for those affected with them.
The trust’s vision is to recognise the importance of good sleep to health, personal well-being, public safety, productivity and quality of life.
SHFNZ objectives are to promote sleep health, prevention and control of all sleeping disorders and sleep deprivation.
It aims to have programmes of on-going informing, educating, advocating, connecting and resourcing through a range of activities and programmes.
As with all health-focused institutions, the foundation’s future success will depend on financial support..
The Trust is deliberately avoiding the stereotypical membership options as part of its income.
Further plans include vigorous campaigning for serious funding with corporate boards and executive management teams, using opportunities that today’s Health and Safety legislation offers, reflecting the tangible benefits from having a fullyawake and healthy workforce.
The foundation will bring in the power of community by establishing a SHFNZ/Lions co-branded National Sleep Health Awareness Week social media campaign, designed to produce an equally serious fund-raising venture on the largest possible stage.
After two years and 4000-plus Lion hours, Woodville Lions Club publicly launched the Sleep Health Foundation of New Zealand on Friday October 27, at the international Sleep DownUnder conference at SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland.
From there the focus moves to our national Sleep Awareness Week timed to commence along with World Sleep Day, on Friday March 16, 2018.