For more than 37 years, the dedicated volunteers of Feilding Friends of Arohanui Hospice have been quietly making a big difference. In the last 20 years through raffles, quiz nights, movie fundraisers, hot cross bun sales and community support, the group has raised an extraordinary $380,000 to help ensure hospice services remain free of charge for patients and whānau.
At the heart of the group is committee member Aileen Rutherford, who has been involved with Feilding Friends for 15 years. Her connection to the cause began long before that through her mother, who started fundraising in 1992 after Aileen’s father spent his final days in hospice care.
“Mum felt it was such a lovely cause to support,” Aileen says. Over more than 20 years, her mother raised $100,000 through cake stalls, plant sales, handmade goods and afternoon teas, inspiring family and friends to get involved along the way.
Today, Feilding Friends continues that legacy with a nine-member committee that works year round to support Arohanui Hospice. The group raises around $20,000 annually, with its popular annual quiz night contributing more than $8,000 each year. They also run two major raffles annually, selling around 3,500 tickets for each fundraiser, along with movie events and seasonal hot cross bun sales.
Aileen says the support from the Feilding community has been a major factor in the group’s success.
“Feilding really does support what we’re doing,” she says.
Arohanui Hospice Chief Executive Clare Randall says the contribution made by Feilding Friends extends well beyond the impressive amount raised.
“For more than 37 years, Feilding Friends has brought its community together in support of local hospice care. Their extraordinary commitment, and the generosity of everyone who supports their fundraising, helps ensure we can continue providing specialist palliative care and support free of charge to patients and their families and whānau across our region. We are incredibly grateful for all they do.”
One of the biggest dates on the fundraising calendar is the Feilding Friends Quiz Night, returning this September. The event attracts up to 30 teams, with as many as six members per team competing for bragging rights while raising money for hospice care. As part of the fundraising guests can preorder savouries and sandwiches for the evening, as well as a raffle on the night. Local businesses support the event by sponsoring individual quiz rounds and raffle prizes. Anyone interested in signing up a team is encouraged to contact Aileen at aileen.rud18@gmail.com to secure a place.
They’re always keen for more members of the Feilding Friends so if you’d like to get involved with the group please contact Aileen at aileen.rud18@gmail.com, and if you’re interested in joining the committee they’d love for you to come along to a meeting and get a feel for what they do.
For Aileen, the reward is simple.
“I love it,” she says. “It’s very rewarding, and you know you’re helping a good organisation.”
With $380,000 raised in the past 20 years and counting, Feilding Friends continues to show what a passionate community can achieve when it comes together for a cause that touches so many lives.
