Rangi Ruru students raising awareness of meningitis

A group of five Year 12 students from Rangi Ruru Girls’ School are doing their bit to increase awareness of meningitis.

As part of the nationwide Young Enterprise scheme, Rose Marshall-Lee, Joce Ormond, Aimee McMaster, Phoebe Robinson and Jess Wood have designed and produced purple wristbands, which they will sell to promote awareness and raise funds for the Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand.

Earlier this year Rangi Ruru lost student Courtenay Rushton to meningitis and, as her peers, the girls are seeking to promote the awareness of this deadly disease.

Jess Wood (Year 12) says the team aims to create something positive from something so tragic and they are extremely passionate about achieving that aim.

“Our non-profit organisation for 2014 is named ESC which stands for Every Second Counts, and we have adopted that as our motto because we think it’s something everyone can relate to,” Jess said.

Thanks to the generous support of sponsors Team Hutchinson Ford, the team has been able to progress the project and has designed and produced the first batch of bands. Team Hutchinson Ford’s contribution is a donation so that means Rangi Ruru can contribute 100 per cent of the proceeds to the Meningitis Foundation

Rangi Ruru teacher and mentor to the girls, Janette Frier, says the team has been thoroughly motivated by personal experience and are determined to see success from their experience.

“They are excited by the chance to help others and to spread a very important message to the community. I have been impressed by their initiative in gaining sponsorship and the professional way in which they conduct themselves in a business setting. The girls are excellent role models for their peers as young women who have set a clear goal and are working incredibly hard to achieve it,” she says.