• Magician  11am
• Santa 1pm
• Food – coffee, cake, sausages and icecream.

Who is Rhys?

Rhys Whiting is currently studying towards an Honours in Bachelor of Business Analysis Degree at Waikato University, with a view of undertaking Masters in 2012 majoring in Economics and Finance.

Rhys in action

His dream is to become a CEO of a major Multinational Corporation and he already has the next step lined up. An AIESEC Global Internship which would give him the opportunity to fine tune his theory with practical experience.

AIESEC is the largest youth-run organisation in the world which facilitates global opportunities and gives practical leadership and development experience to members. But it costs money, so Rhys has applied to AMP Scholarships for funding to help him reach this goal.

How to vote

Please Vote for Rhys Whiting and help him win the People’s Choice Award – it is worth $10K and would be a great way for us to celebrate another amazing young man, who happens also to have been born with a cleft lip and palate. We have a fantastic role model for our kids – Face It we can do anything.

Please vote for Rhys and let all your family, work mates and friends know too.

Vanessa and Levi are hosting the next Auckland Coffee Group, in New Lynn.  Everyone is welcome, we hope to see you there.

When:  Tuesday 22nd March 2010, from 10-12.

Please bring a small plate to share.  For the address details phone 0800 4 CLEFT  (0800425338)

2011 is well underway and we would like to invite any families in our region to a Coffee Group

WHEN:  Tuesday 22nd Feb from 10am until 12 noon

WHERE:  Louise and Henry’s house in Epsom.  (Ring 0800 425 338 for the address)

Please bring a small plate to share and RSVP to 0800 425 338 so we have an idea of numbers.

Our first every Christchurch Xmas party was held at the Botanic Gardens on Sunday28th Nov.  Thanks to all those who made the effort to get there.

An especially big thank you to Kenny for organising this.  We all appreciate your initiative and organisational capabilities.

We would also like to thank Harriette van der Zee and Peter Fowler from the Christchurch Cleft Team for making the time to come. 

It was gr8 to see you all.  Next time, we hope some teenagers can make it too!!

After 6 & 1/2 years, it feels like the right time to pass Cleft NZ, our vision and purpose on to the next group of passionate people.  I became involved because of our beautiful son Oliver.  After that first full on year I thought I’d like to learn more about the system and support new families through what we had just experienced. (more…)

We would like to thank the Staff of MPD group who have chosen to support Cleft NZ with their Movember campaign. We really appreciate it!

“We chose Cleft NZ to support with the Movember campaign because our boss, Mick and his family, have benefitted from your service. We felt that we wanted to give back and say thank you for all the support and help that they received when Max was born”, says Bianca from MPD group. (more…)

Kenny’s back in the house and we are really pleased!

(borrowed from new Auckland Mayor Len Brown) .  For those that don’t know Kenny has been in England for most of this year – but he’s back home in Christchurch and already making his presence felt.

Not Kenny - but Santa is magical for everyone

Kenny is running in this year’s Santa run and 50% of the funds he raises is for Cleft NZ.  Thanks Kenny.  Please support Kenny by sponsoring his initiative, or if you think this is a cool idea and gr8 way to help Cleft NZ, then maybe you want to do the Santa run too.

For all you need to know, go to Kenny’s Santa run website. 

We love you Kenny  - your enthusiasm, endless ideas and ability to just get things done is an inspiration.  The Santa runs are in all the main centres, so we may even get to meet each other at the events!

Auckland University is pleased to offer free hearing assessments for children aged 6 months to 4 years and 11 months on Mondays until the end of the year in their audiology teaching clinic.

Appointments are also available Tuesday – Friday for the child size fee of $20.

Please contact the university to make an appointment:
The University of Auckland Clinics
Tāmaki Innovation Campus
School of Population Health
Ground Floor
Phone: 373 7999 Ext: 89909
Email: clinics@auckland.ac.nz
Web: www.clinics.auckland.ac.nz

Although well and truly over most of the hurdles that come with being born with a cleft, Marcus believes that coming into contact with many other people who have facial or other physical irregularities in the course of his career, have helped him see the ‘big picture’.

“The concept of ‘Face It’ seemed to sum up how you have to tackle each stage in life, as parents of a baby, or as a child heading to school, and that it’s far better to do it as positively as you can,” says Marcus.