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Sailability Auckland is the President’s Nominated Charity of the Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa during 2014-2015. The first Sailability-focussed activity undertaken by the Club was support for a charity “sausage sizzle” on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August, at PAK’nSAVE, Silverdale.
PAK’nSAVE in Silverdale, with Mr Vinod Bhaga as owner/operator, is proud to support local community activities. Vinod, on behalf of his store, recently became an Associate Member of the Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa and has already supported a number of local Rotary community initiatives. Vinod said “When I heard about the Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa supporting Sailability Auckland, I immediately decided that we would offer the opportunity for both organisations to become part of our birthday celebration weekend on 9th and 10th of August, to help them raise valuable funds for sailors with disabilities”. PAK’nSAVE in Silverdale very generously donated all of the food and soft drinks that were dispensed on both days and also provided the barbecue equipment and gas.
President Brian Mullan of the Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa welcomed the generous offer by such a high profile organisation as PAK’nSAVE and said “This amazingly generous gesture by Vinod and PAK’nSAVE was greatly appreciated. It gave us the opportunity to kick-start what was the first of a number of initiatives that will see the Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa working closely with Sailability Auckland, to provide sailing for local people with disabilities”.
The event was a huge success. Over the two days, more than 600 sausages were consumed, raising $1425.80, thanks to the fantastic generosity of PAK’nSAVE in Silverdale and their many customers, who opened their hearts, purses and wallets so willingly for this worthy cause.
The Chairman of Sailability Auckland, Mr Brendan Tourelle, said “The warm welcome and great generosity of PAK’nSAVE Silverdale were just fantastic. All of the money raised will go towards the new Sailability branch, which will be based at the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club, due to start this Summer – way ahead of what we thought possible – thanks to the amazing support from the Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa. We look forward to growing this partnership between Whangaparaoa Rotary and Sailability Auckland in the years to come.”
