Camp Quality

Sporting Seymour�s Step into a New Role as

Camp Quality Ambassadors

Two of New Zealand�s top sporting achievers, Dallas and Julie Seymour, have taken up a new role as South Island Ambassadors for Camp Quality NZ.

Dallas, former All Black and NZ Sevens player, and Julie, former Silver Ferns representative, are the new faces for the not-for-profit volunteer organisation dedicated to bringing fun, hope and happiness to children living with cancer.

With four children of their own, the youngsters were the inspiration behind getting involved with the charity. �Just knowing how precious our kids are and how lucky we are to have them, we thought we would love to do something to help out other kids,� says Julie. �We were already aware of Camp Quality and what they did, so the connection could not of being more perfect.�

As the newly appointed Ambassadors, Dallas and Julie are looking forward to meeting all the people associated with Camp Quality.

The Commonwealth Games medallists recently visited the Camp Quality South Camp and loved the experience. �It was great to not just visit, but to stay the night and meet all the campers, companions and everyone that makes up the camp. We thoroughly enjoyed being apart of it and it just reinforced the fantastic idea of camp.�

Camp Quality NZ Chairman Ivan Lawson says he is thrilled the Seymour�s have taken up this new role. �With the very busy lives both Dallas and Julie lead, the dedication and commitment they have already shown to Camp Quality is priceless. We feel extremely privileged to now have Ambassadors in both the North and South Island.�

The pair join former Kiwis and Warriors league star Stacey Jones in putting their name behind Camp Quality. Stacey was appointed a Camp Quality Ambassador in 2008.

Dallas, a former Canterbury Crusaders loose forward, played three games for the All Blacks in 1992 in Australia and South Africa. He was a member of the NZ Sevens side for 14 years, including gold medal victory at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998.

Julie, who still turns her hand to coaching, is the assistant coach for the Canterbury Tactix. She played 90 tests for the Silver Ferns from 1994 to 2009, including two silver medal successes at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998 and Manchester, England in 2002.

Little General Embraces Role of Quality

Size has never mattered to Stacey Jones.

As a figure of royalty in the New Zealand rugby league community, the man known as "The Little General" has torn through defences, and carried the dreams of an entire nation on his back. His league career now over, he is now tackling a new role, one that allows him to work face to face with those more similar to his own small frame.

Jones is the new ambassador for children's charity Camp Quality NZ, a not for profit volunteer organisation dedicated to bringing fun, hope and happiness to the lives of children living with cancer and their families.

He hit the ground running with a week full of events for Camp Quality's awareness week in April, and is embracing his new role.

Camp Quality strives to provide a safe and secure environment for the young campers. They are treated to one-on-one support and organised activities from highly trained volunteers.

Since Camp Quality's inaugural camp in 1986, the programme has grown to include annual camps in five different regions, accepting more than 300 children aged between five and 16.

Jones says his new role came through good friend and fellow rugby league personality, �The Mad Butcher�, Peter Leitch. "Peter sort of recommended me to Camp Quality, he works with them as well," he says.

It is a different role than what he is used to, but Jones loves the thought of coming face to face with people off the field, rather than trying to evade people on it. "Helping children who suffer from cancer, is a great opportunity to be a part of," he says. "I'm really looking forward to this role and having a run around with some of the kids. It'll make a nice change from getting whacked around by big props and second rowers."

Jones is the father of a young family, and acknowledges the risk of cancer affects everyone.

"I don't know what the kids go through but how they deal with it is amazing, and I want to help them and their families. "Camp Quality makes a huge difference to those children and families affected by cancer. It is an honour to be a part of that."

Camp Quality NZ chairman Jim Grierson says it is a pleasure to welcome a person of Jones' stature to the Camp Quality family. He believes Jones has "already adopted the role of ambassador with the same dedication he has demonstrated in his very successful rugby league career."

During Camp Quality's national awareness week, fundraising events were held around the country, assisted by key partners the Lions Clubs, as well as other service organisations and schools.

"Each year at a cost of more than $500,000 we deliver, through the commitment of our 500 volunteers and willing helpers, fun programmes for children living with cancer," Grierson says. "There is nothing more humbling than seeing the great big smiles on their faces at our various activities."

An estimated 150 young New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year. Camp Quality believes in the power of fun to help these children and their families overcome the challenges associated with facing cancer. Grierson says, "the goal is to provide the campers with fun and comradeship combined with achievable challenges to encourage them to focus on the positive aspects of their lives."

The ever humble Jones plans to attend as many camps as possible, to introduce himself to children and their families. "It is a great opportunity to help out," he says, a modest statement given the amount of smiles he is about to create.

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