Good deeds challenge to support grief service

Jennifer Murray with flowers she has made for charity as an example of one of the good deeds tasks. Photo: John Borren.

Grief Support Services is running a peer-to-peer Good Deeds Challenge from July 9-24 to raise funds for their organisation.

Participants can choose 16 ‘good deed' tasks, to complete one daily, from a list of 40 activities – from giving someone a happy note to introducing yourself to a neighbour to getting in touch with an old friend.

'We offer a range of tasks so fundraisers can choose what suits them best. Everyone's challenge will look a little different so it can really be custom-made to suit everyone,” says Grief Support Services funding manager Jen Murray.

The fundraiser, run through the organisation's online platform, is on during school holidays makes to make it an excellent challenge for the whole family to get involved.

'Anyone aged under 13 will require parent/guardian consent to sign up and we reinforce the message that students under the age of 13 should not have their own social media accounts.”

Jen says it's easy to get involved. 'Simply sign up online, start telling your connections about your fundraiser then choose your 16 tasks of which you need to complete one per day between July 9-24.”

Sharing your journey with your supporters is a key to success and adds to the fun, says Jen.

'We have awesome spot prizes to give away throughout the challenge thanks to Synergy Vitality Spa, Motion Entertainment and New World Gate Pa.”

The service supports families and individuals within the Western Bay of Plenty through grief and loss situations so those experiencing grief feel more understood and less isolated, become more resilient and are better able to access support.

Grief counselling can lessen the risk of depression and suicidal ideation. As people grow their support systems and tools of resilience they are less likely to turn to drugs, alcohol, self-harm or other unhelpful tools to cope.

'There is a flow-on effect from counselling as our clients heal, their resilience returns and they become more able to participate in their families, community and workplace,” says Jen.

Grief and loss are not only a response to bereavement but can occur following any loss or unwelcome change. This includes situations such as the break-up of a relationship or marriage, fractured family relationships, financial loss, redundancy, injury or illness of self or of a friend/family member.

'The complexities of coping with grief and loss have definitely been exacerbated due to various circumstances in relation to the pandemic and other national or global situations.”

In their last financial year, philanthropic support contributed to the service providing more than 2400 grief and loss counselling sessions to more than 520 individuals and families/whanau and providing information and support to the community.

However, the waiting list the service operates with continues to grow. All funds raised through the challenge will support the service.

To join the challenge, visit: www.griefsupport.org.nz/challenge2022

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