A Mufti Day will be held at East Otago High School on Friday 31st July to support 'Buy a Brick for Blair'

Buy a Brick for Blair – July 31, 2020 

Kia ora, 

To people throughout New Zealand, Blair Vining was an extraordinary man: a man who turned his own tragedy into a battle to ensure better cancer care for his community. 

The Southland Charity Hospital Trust was established in 2019 following Blair’s epic fight to ensure all Kiwis have equitable access to cancer care, following his diagnosis of terminal bowel cancer in 2018. Once completed, the Southland Charity Hospital will provide free services to those in Otago and Southland who are unable to access the care they deserve, through the private or public health systems. 

One of the things Blair liked to say to his wife, Melissa Vining, was simple: he reckoned if everybody bought a brick, together we could build the hospital. So that’s what we’re going to do: but we need your help. 

On Friday July 31, 2020, we want to see schools and businesses hold a Casual Friday in support of Blair’s legacy and Buy a Brick Day. We hope to encourage everybody to don red, white and black (the colours of the Blair Vining Sports Foundation) to raise funds that can be used to purchase a supporter’s brick for the Southland Charity Hospital. 

What are supporter’s bricks? 

The Southland Charity Hospital is by the community, for the community. Our hospital will not receive any Government funding. 

Our supporter’s bricks will be available for the public to purchase in exchange for a donation. These bricks will pave the pathway into the Southland Charity Hospital. Available to purchase at www.buyabrick.co.nz, for a donation of $100 each brick will serve as a lasting tribute to the community support behind the Southland Charity Hospital. Each brick can be engraved with up to two lines, of 16 characters each. Cost to purchase a brick is inclusive of engraving. 

Blair’s Garden – commemorative plaques 

As well as our supporter’s bricks, the Southland Charity Hospital will also offer the public the opportunity to purchase a commemorative plaque in exchange for a donation. 

For a donation of $500, these commemorative plaques will serve as a lasting tribute to supporters of the Southland Charity Hospital. The commemorative plaques will be situated in Blair’s Garden, to be created on-site at the Southland Charity Hospital premises. Plaques, like supporter’s bricks, are available to purchase online. 

How you can help 

The team at the Southland Charity Hospital would be grateful if you were willing to show your support for our #buyabrick campaign. By holding a Casual Friday, and using the proceeds to purchase a supporter’s brick, you will be changing the lives of the people within our community. 

Buy a Brick Day will be held around New Zealand on Friday, July 31, 2020. Supporter’s bricks will be available to purchase online at www.southlandcharityhospital.org from this date. Further information about our #buyabrick campaign is also available on our website. 

Buy a Brick: other ways you can contribute 

As well as its supporter’s bricks, the Southland Charity Hospital will also offer the public the opportunity to purchase a commemorative plaque in exchange for a donation. 

For a donation of $500, these commemorative plaques will serve as a lasting tribute to supporters of the Southland Charity Hospital. The commemorative plaques will be situated in Blair’s Garden to be created on-site at the Southland Charity Hospital premises. 

Plaques, like supporter’s bricks, will be available to purchase online from July 31, 2020. 

If you’re willing to get involved, please let us know. Email Media and Communications Manager Alana Dixon-Calder at media@southlandcharityhospital.org to register your involvement. You can also find a poster available for download here. 

Dr Murray Pfeifer Chairman, Southland Charity Hospital Trust