:daffodil day
Putting the Fun in Fundraising
As Daffodil Day comes around again we celebrate some long serving individuals whose combined efforts have raised over a million dollars
Faye James
FUNDRAISING AND SPECIAL EVENTS Manager Manawatu, covering the Central Districts area and regional representative for the Cancer Society National Events Operational Group and Daffodil Bear creator I was born and educated in Palmerston North where I started a
career working in a bank. I went on a grand OE and returned with a real souvenir - my husband, Bob. We settled in Palmerston North, have one daughter, Natasha and prior to working for the Cancer Society owned a restaurant. I saw the job advertised for a six month contract organising the
local Daffodil Day in 1994. We returned to the United Kingdom for a couple of months to introduce our daughter to her United Kingdom family and on return I was offered a full-time position with the Cancer Society expanding my role to a full time fundraiser. I have really enjoyed the opportunities to expand the role, being on
a national committee and working on other Daffodil Day fundraising merchandise. An item that is eagerly anticipated each year is the Daffodil Day Bear. In 1999 I developed the bear along the style of a similar product sold by the Australian Cancer Society, and each year the bear is named and dressed in a style that I develop. Today we have sold over a million dollars in bears. My hobbies include
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cooking, gardening, travelling and I love the beach and Zumba for exercise. I collect Ink Wells so many weekends are spent looking in antique shops or on Trade Me.
What have been some of the major changes to Daffodil Day and the Cancer Society over the time you have been involved?
Daffodil Day has truly become an icon that is reflected in a tea towel that we will have on sale this year. Every area of New Zealand takes part and the community rallies behind the cause with donations and volunteering on the day. The corporate partnership with The National Bank has grown in
strength, and working with the bank staff to come up with innovative ways to fundraise is something I enjoy.
What has been your most memorable Daffodil Day? The 20th Anniversary brought out some fabulous stories. My
favourite was a small group of ladies in Fielding who, like Daffodil Day itself, started with a morning tea that has grown from raising a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars and involves all the community. It also humbles me when I see the efforts made by rural communities; in particular where local volunteers pick daffodils on often frost-laden grounds to use on Daffodil Day. In 2010 we also had upcoming All Black, Aaron Cruden, who has
had cancer assisting the promotion and I spent a very enjoyable day accompanying him doing a street site collection and head shave at a local school.
What is the best thing about your job?
