It’s not every day you answer the door to a group of women dressed in pink tutus and angelic halos, but for the Arvida Angels it’s all for a good cause.
The team of 13 women, aged between 70 and 84, from Arvida Waimea Plains Lifestyle Village in Richmond have raised nearly $5,000 so far as they prepare to walk through the night next month in the annual Relay for Life, raising funds for Cancer Society Nelson Tasman.
A team leader Allie Gutschlag says the generosity from the community has been outstanding as they don their angelic attire and walk the streets of The Meadows and Berryfields.
“Everyone has been touched by cancer and we all have a personal connection. The handprints on our T-shirts are from residents who have had cancer or have family members who have had it.”
The Arvida Angels also took part in the fundraiser two years ago and Allie says they hardly sat down during the night walk because the experience was both fun and solemn, and every possible emotion in between.
While door knocking is mainly about fundraising, Allie says it also raises awareness about the fundraising event and gives people an opportunity to share their experiences.
“A lot of people don’t know about Relay for Life. People start to share their stories and we can all relate. It’s quite emotional.”
As well as door knocking in their neighbourhoods, the angelic team has been busy fundraising within the village, hosting mini concerts and parties, as well as running a raffle.
On 14 March, Allie says they will be walking in support, in memory and in hope. By then, they expect to have raised more than $5,000 for their local Cancer Society.
