Mayors across Aotearoa stepped up for Street Appeal 2025
Announcing the winner of our inaugural Miracle Makers: Mayoral Challenge for Childhood Cancer.
The results are in. We have a winner!
Shortly before Christmas in the Mackenzie District, mayor Anne Munro was diagnosed with cancer and stepped away from her role to undergo initial treatment. Deputy Mayor Karen Morgan came forward as Acting Mayor.
When we announced the Miracle Makers: Mayoral Challenge for Childhood Cancer for this year’s Street Appeal, Karen Morgan stepped right up.
In fact, in a shining example of support this March, she started raising funds before even taking up the blue bucket.
We’re delighted to announce that as Acting Mayor, Karen Morgan of the Mackenzie District sailed ahead and took first place raising a generous $2,163.80!
Thank you and congratulations to our very first Miracle Maker Mayor: Karen Morgan!
Runners-up were:
- Tamah Alley (Central Otago District) with $1,104.95
- Paula Southgate (Hamilton) with $1,017.65
- Glyn Lewers (Queenstown Lakes District) with $982.70
- And best small district – Ron Mark (Carterton District) with $704.85
Our sincere thanks to each one of them, and all the mayors who took time out of their busy schedules to step up for Kiwi kids with cancer!
A huge thank you to our Patron Jim Boult, former mayor of Queenstown Lakes District, as well. He sent a personal invite to mayors all over New Zealand to take him up the inaugural challenge to see who among them could raise the most for Child Cancer Foundation at this year’s Street Appeal.
More than 20 mayors took part in the end. We’re so grateful to Jim, the mayors, our staff who made it all happen behind the scenes, and to the generous public who got behind their mayor in support of our essential mahi.
Every dollar the mayors helped raise will go directly towards giving one-to-one care to Kiwi kids with cancer and their whānau. 💖
How did it all start?
With the help of our Patron and former Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult, we invited mayors from all over Aotearoa to roll up their sleeves for Street Appeal in March 2025.
On Friday 14 and Saturday 15 March, they we challenged to grab a collection bucket and go head-to-head to see who could raise the most funds for tamariki with cancer and their whānau.
20 mayors from Whangārei to Invercargill answered the call. Even big city leaders like Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger joined in the challenge, proving that no matter how busy things get, there’s always time to give back.
Jim Boult personally put the challenge out to his mayoral colleagues nation-wide.
“This challenge started from my time as mayor, standing outside a supermarket with a collection bucket. It was a small effort, but people gave generously because they knew it was for a cause that truly matters. Now, I’m thrilled to see mayors across the country taking up the challenge to help Kiwi kids with cancer.
“I’ve been involved with Child Cancer Foundation for decades, but one conversation will stay with me forever—a 10-year-old girl, terminally ill, told my wife Karen she wasn’t afraid of dying, just of being forgotten. That’s why I do this. That’s why I asked these mayors to step up. So these brave children, and their families, know they are never alone.”
For the families we support, the journey through childhood cancer is long and incredibly tough. Every week, three more Kiwi families receive the devastating news that their child has cancer, and their world is turned upside down overnight.
With no government funding, we rely entirely on the generosity of New Zealanders to be able to continue providing essential support to these families.
That’s why each mayors’ involvement in our Street Appeal on 14-15 March 2025 was so powerful. By leading from the front, they’re showing their communities that everyone can take a moment to make a huge difference.
There were a few ways to support your mayor in their fundraising efforts:
✅ Donate in person at their collection site
✅ Give online at childcancer.org.nz/donate and select your mayor as your reason for donating
✅ Text your mayor’s full name to 3457 to donate $3 instantly—anytime, as often as you like
A huge thank you to all the mayors who raised a hand to take part:
Andy Watson Rangitikei District
Bryan Cadogan Clutha District
Dan Gordon Waimakariri District
Gary Caffell Masterton District
Gary Kircher Waitaki District
Glyn Lewers Queenstown Lakes District
Grant Smith Palmerston North
Janet Holborow Kāpiti Coast District
Karen Morgan Mackenzie District
Martin Connelly South Wairarapa District
Neil Holdom New Plymouth District
Paula Southgate Hamilton
Phil Mauger Christchurch
Rehette Stoltz Gisborne District
Ron Mark Carterton District
Tamah Alley Central Otago
Victor Luca Whakatane District
Vince Cocurullo Whangarei District
Wayne Brown Auckland
Wayne Guppy Upper Hutt City
Every donation helps us continue our work so that families facing childhood cancer don’t have to go through it alone. Thank you for getting behind our mayors to make a real difference together!