The Chalky Carr Trust was established by Kevin ”Chalky” Carr in the face of terminal pancreatic cancer to make a positive and practical difference for those impacted and bound together by cancer.
Since then the Trust has raised well over half a million dollars and completed several projects including a $100,000 trust fund for a little girl who lost her mum to cancer; Chalky’s Chairs – specialist oncology chairs at Christchurch Hospital; Chalky’s Cars, a taxi service for those undergoing cancer treatment and Chalky Carr Scholarships to support tertiary students at the University of Canterbury, Ara and Lincoln University who have been affected by cancer.
Chalky’s legacy continues with the Trust’s latest initiative to raise $100,000 for the Canterbury Charity Hospital which provides bowel screening for those under 50 years who have been referred to the public system but not met the criteria for public investigation. Stuff reporter Jo McKenzie-McLean, who has stage four bowel cancer, gave the keynote address at the recent Chalky Carr Trust Party at Te Pae about the difficulties accessing bowel screening after she had symptoms that warranted further investigation. In New Zealand, younger patients have limited public access to investigation due to resource limitations and a more stringent set of criteria.
The fundraising started with Nic Gill, Sam Whitelock and Brad Mooar rode Wattbikes in a 24-hour marathon in MIQ. Together with the recent event at Te Pae, the Chalky Carr Trust is proud to have raised over $100,000 for the charity hospital’s bowel screening service.
From left to right: Chalky Carr Trust patron Gemma McCaw, Jo McKenzie-McLean and Trustee Dr Sarah Carr at the Party at Te Pae. Image courtesy of Chalky Carr Trust .
