Soup to Nuts team members (from left) Massey Institute of Food Science and Technology administrators Lee Anne Hannan, Christine Ramsay and Miria Busby, with Dr Wester (seated).
A team from Massey University’s Colleges of Sciences and Health have topped the fundraising stakes at this year’s Manawatū Cancer Society Relay for Life.
The Massey Soup to Nuts team, comprising 18 staff from the Massey Institute of Food Science and Technology, Riddet Institute, School of Veterinary Sciences and School of Agriculture and Environment, raised $10,334 for the event held last weekend – the most monies raised by a family, friends and community team.
Alongside individual donations, the team also raised funds through a diverse variety of means, including raffles, bake sales, pork sandwiches, Chinese and Iranian lunches, a garage sale, high tea, quiz night and exercise night.
Since being formed 15 years ago out of the former Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, the team has raised more than $80,000 for the Cancer Society. During the years, the Institute has morphed and the team alongside it, collecting more members along the way.
Team captain and senior lecturer in Animal Science Dr Tim Wester said the team wanted to thank all the people on the Manawatū campus who supported Soup to Nuts’ fundraising efforts over the years. “We rely on that support for a large part of our fundraising through bake sales and sausage sizzles on the Concourse, and selling raffles and lunches to others in our departments.”
More than 90 teams participated in this year’s Manawatū event, which was held at the University’s former Hokowhitu site, raising nearly $225,000.