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Painting for Sale - 31 May 2007 Man by Toni Duffy Oils on board 600mm wide x 650mm high framed $950.00 Interested parties should contact Mandy Nelson to purchase: T: 366 3678 M: 021 635 450 E: mandy.n@fullcolour.org.nz This superb painting has been donated by the artist and is for sale, on behalf of the Full Colour Trust. You may view this painting at Procopé coffee shop, Victoria Street, Christchurch, where it is currently hanging. Purchaser can arrange purchase by contacting Mandy Nelson (contact details above) or through staff at Procopé. Other works by Toni Duffy may be viewed at Heart of Art and Look Gallery.
Phil Patey rides for FCT - 15 Dec 2006 Phil Patey, who works for Heidelberg, is an enthusiastic competitive sportsperson. This year, he was a sponsored competitor in the Active Health QEII Triathlon and Duathlon and donated funds he raised to the Full Colour Trust. Phil crosses the finish line after managing to raise $600 for the Full Colour Trust through sponsorship. Well done Phil!
Mhairi’s Ball a Resounding Success - 10 Nov 2006 Click here to view photos from Mhairi's Ball. Full Colour Trust trustees and the organisers of Mhairi’s Ball, held on the 3rd of November, were delighted with the success of the event. The ball was a charity fund-raiser, held to raise money specifically to cover costs of medical care for Mhairi Flett, who is suffering from an aggressive form of breast cancer. From 7.30pm, guests entered the Civic on a red carpet to be welcomed by trustees of the Full Colour Trust and offered glasses of bubbles with peach schnapps. The venue, decorated with blue fairy lights, glitter balls and pink, yellow and blue lighting over white window drapes, was a credit to the ball committee, in particular Julie Goodman, Riana Tamati and Rebecca Harris. But perhaps most spectacular of all was the sheer volume and quality of the auction item display, all of which were donated. Items for the live auction were hung, or displayed on easels, and spot-lit on the stage while all silent auction items were hung, or laid out on tables in the Green Room. Arty and Farty, entertainers, mustered guests into the ballroom in their usual blustering, humorous style and introduced MC Jon Gadsby. Jon welcomed guests then read out some very emotive emails that Trustees have received from well-wishers and donors. Trustee Bruce Gibson, who presented Mhairi with a corsage from the Trust, spoke next and gave some background information about the trust. Jonathan Flett then responded on Mhairi’s and his own behalf. The live auction cranked up with Bryan Andrews setting a cracking pace. He was well supported by a team of volunteer spotters from Harcourts. Nicci Becconsall and Lois Sigglekow, who valiantly manned the cash desk for the whole night, somehow managed to keep up with Bryan while also processing silent auction bids, but sadly missed out on much of the supper and dancing. They deserve medals. After the live auction closed, guests were treated to a display by a troupe of salsa dancers, who ended their display by inviting guests to get up and dance with them. As they finished, the band Funky Hot Mamas took over, delivering excellent covers of favourite party tunes. Supper was served; wine flowed; gorgeous people appeared selling magic raffle envelopes and sold them all in record time. And still Nicci and Lois processed auction sales! The result was that, in one night, the Trust raised over $70,000. Trustees thank all those involved – it’s an outstanding result. Details of the next Full Colour Trust fund-raising event will be posted on this website soon.
Mother fights Govt over drug - 03 Aug 2006 By JOANNA DAVIS On top of the usual challenges of dealing with a teething baby and a busy preschooler, Christchurch mother Mhairi Flett is also fighting an aggressive form of breast cancer. Flett, 40, will have her sixth session of chemotherapy on Monday. She has had to give up breastfeeding, lost her hair and had one breast removed since her diagnosis with the HER2 form of cancer four months ago. Flett said Government drug-buying agency Pharmac's decision not to fund the high-cost and potentially life-saving drug Herceptin had been another blow, and she planned to protest. ENJOYING LIFE: Mhairi Flett, who has breast cancer, cuddles her children, Sophie, three, and Brodie, seven months. Kirk Hargreaves "I'm calling on all women with breast cancer to send their prosthesis or their wig or some of their hair from chemotherapy to Parliament as well. It's gut-wrenching," she said. Flett said she was encouraged by the story of Prebbleton grandmother Patricia Carter, who is sending her prostheses to Health Minister Pete Hodgson in protest against the Herceptin decision. Carter lost all five of her sisters to breast cancer and had her own breasts removed as a preventive measure. Flett said the process of being diagnosed and going through chemotherapy was a huge issue for women because it caused a loss of femininity. "You lose your hair, your breasts, you go through menopause. Maybe sending these things (to Hodgson) will make it a bit more personal for him." Pharmac said there was not enough evidence that Herceptin saved lives and not enough was known about the best dose or duration of treatment. Hodgson said Swiss manufacturer Roche's asking price – about $70,000 for a one-year treatment for a patient – was too high. The drug is funded in New Zealand for terminal stages of cancer, when it can extend life by months. Government health agencies in Australia and Britain have recommended it also be funded there for early-stage cancer. Flett, who works part-time as a paper sales representative, said she was trying to stay positive for her children, Sophie, three, and Brodie, seven months. "I've got two kids and I want them to grow up with Mum." Her colleagues in the print, graphic design and advertising industry are setting up a charitable trust to raise about $100,000 needed for a course of treatment with Herceptin. Trustee Mandy Nelson, from the G. and A Nelson advertising agency, said the idea for the trust came when she saw the immediacy of Flett's need. "Here's a woman who's just turned 40, who has a seven-month-old baby. She was given a weekend to wean him and had an operation the next week." After raising the money for Flett's treatment, Nelson said, the Full Colour Trust would continue to support others with health or other urgent and short-term needs. © The Press and Fairfax New Zealand Ltd 2006. All rights reserved.