2011 Annual Bow Tie Campaign

Bow Tie Week 2011

Bow tie’s really were the accessory of choice in February as the MDAs national Bow Tie Week activities attracted widely publicised attention and support.

From the prime minister of New Zealand John Key, who wore Poirot’s bowtie, gifted to the New Zealand MDA by British actor David Suchet, to the opening of Napier’s Art Deco Week; the commitment from MDA patron Judy Bailey to be the face and voice of the campaign; the support of New Zealand fashion designers WORLD who created and sold the unique World of Difference bow tie during February and the gifting of hand made bow ties to a number of high profile New Zealand celebrities, Bow Tie Week activities this year really brought high profile attention and profile to the organisation, its purpose and the challenges many of our members face.

If you would like to volunteer or have any fundraising ideas contact Deborah Baker our new Marketing Manager on Deborah@mda.org.nz or 09-815-0247 ext 706

Facebook and the Bow Tie Campaign

The Bow Tie Campaign has a Facebook page if you would like to check some of the photos and become a fan click the image below:

The Southern Trust

We would like to give special thanks to the Southern Trust for giving us a grant of $20,000 for the media coverage for the National Bow Tie Awareness Campaign.

Special Thank You's:

MDA would like to specially thank the following people for their energy and time in making this Bow Tie Campaign a hugely successful one.
- Judy Bailey, Liam Gleeson, Michael Wheeler, Matt Vogts and the team at WORLD, Adrian Yee-Joy and all ASB branches, Leigh and Graeme Gleeson, Nadine Allen and the Waikeria inmates, Joy Jenkins, Jack Lovett-Hurst and mum Debbie Lovett, Rae Mahoney and family, Allan Phillips and the staff at Bedazzling, Graeme Bell, David Kirk, Rob Waddell, Sir Michael Fay, Grant Dalton, Len Brown, Ness Toki, Alistair Wall, the Paiker family and Rick Seagar. A huge thank you to all those members and supporters who got out there and did their bit for Bow Tie Week 2010!

People often ask, "What is the relevance of the Bow Tie?"

We use the complexity of tying a bow tie to symbolise the difficulties our members face on a daily basis. The message is what appears to be simple is in fact difficult. Many of our members are faced with just this sort of challenge when attempting to undertake tasks which most people consider to be simple and straightforward.

We need YOUR help. If you’re an individual or a business and you can help to sell a box containing 40 pins, magnets and stickers click here for a Bow Tie Order Form or contact Reena Mehta on bowtie@mda.org.nz or phone me on 815 0247 Ext 706 (Auckland) or 0800 800337 Ext 706.

Poirot's Bow Tie

Inspector Poirot has kindly donated one of his bow ties for the 2010 Bow Tie Campaign.

Northern branch committee member Leigh Gleeson, whose son has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, contacted David Suchet (who plays Agatha Christie’s Inspector Poirot in the television series of the same name) and told him how important bow ties were to the NZ MDA and asked if he’d be interested in donating one for auction. Suchet willingly agreed to part with one of Poirot’s bow ties. The bow tie was presented to the northern branch’s Denise Ganley, in the presence of MDA patron Judy Bailey and Police 10/7 host detective Inspector Graham Bell, at a special ceremony at the North Shore Policing Centre in September.

If you are interested in bidding for the Poirot Bow Tie contact Reena.