Free flight to Queenstown Winterfest for baldies

On June 27, over 100 passengers and crew will board an Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to the Queenstown Winter Festival only to have their hair shaven before the plane touches down.

Air New Zealand has combined with the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation NZ to raise funds through donations to those who are brave enough to have their heads shaved in order to gain a free flight to the festival.

The event is to show support for 10,000 New Zealanders living with blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma, many of whom lose their hair as a result of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The foundation’s communications and marketing manager Leola Abraham says the event is a first time collaboration between the two organisations and believes it will be a success.

Abraham hopes each passenger will raise at least $500 through sponsorship before the flight takes off, which would mean a total of $50,000.

“It is a really cool event and we are encouraging everyone to sign up and get behind us,” says Abraham.

Signing up is exactly what comedian Jeremy Corbett and Air NZ Chief executive Rob Fyfe and are doing, as they will both be losing their hair for the cause.

“I can’t wait, we’ve done all sorts of themed flights before, but never one that included a plane load of baldies,” says Fyfe.

“We’re a sponsor of the Queenstown Winter Festival so taking the flight down there felt like a natural fit. Plus everyone can have a lot of fun when they get there and show off their new hairstyle.”

Fyfe says interest has been strong and that they are aiming to fill the 100-plus passenger plane. The festival runs from June 27 to July 4.

“Bookings are going great. Some of my management team are helping to raise money and coming along too.”

Although the sky high shave is a first, the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation runs a “shave for a cure” period every year, usually between March and April where Kiwis can support the cause by signing up sponsors and shaving their heads.

This will be the third time Fyfe has opted for the razor friendly cut; last year he teamed up with wife Donna.

Fyfe’s own father died of blood cancer so he can see the importance of what the foundation does.

“The anniversary was last Friday, I still miss him heaps. He really benefitted from the support and advice he got from the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation when he was ill. It raises money for a great cause and that’s the most important thing,” says Fyfe.

The foundation’s executive director Pru Etcheverry says: “This is a fun idea and we are delighted to have the support of Air New Zealand for this very special flight.”

The Leukaemia and Blood foundation is a national charity that supports patients and their families living with blood cancers and related blood conditions. The organisation does not receive government funding and is therefore totally reliant on money raised through its events such as the sky high shave.

Those wishing to participate must register with the “Sky High Shave” group on the shaveforacure.co.nz website, and must also call Air New Zealand on 0800 747 222 to reserve their seat on the flight.