Freemasons New Zealand .
Enlightening evening for Grand Master! freemasonsnz.org
Great work by The Lodge of Enlightenment with their Rugby Function.
The Freemasons Foundation has donated $50,000 to the New Zealand Rugby Foundation which partners with New Zealand’s seriously injured rugby players.
The donation was announced at a charity evening hosted by the Freemasons Foundation at the North Shore Masonic Centre in Albany, on the night of the second test between the All Blacks and British and Irish Lions rugby team.
“We are delighted and humbled to receive this substantial gift. It will be used to help heat the homes of our injured players,” said Rugby Foundation Director and rugby legend, Bryan Williams.
“One of the most debilitating physical aspects for our VIPs (Very Injured Players) is that some players suffer from body temperature control impairment. They lose their natural temperature control and therefore can become cold or hot, quickly.”
The New Zealand Rugby Foundation partners with rugby players who have suffered life changing catastrophic injuries. The Foundation currently works with 106 VIPs across the country.
The earliest serious injury event on record occurred in 1966, when Allan Pullar, who turns 72 this year, broke his neck. The most recent injury, was to 24-year-old, Braden Coates of Waikato, who was injured on 1 July when he fractured a vertebrae.
“We are deeply grateful for the Freemason Foundations support. Their values of camaraderie and community support resonates with the Rugby Foundation; people caring about others,” said Lisa Kingi-Bon, New Zealand Rugby Foundation CEO.