Newsletter - July 2009
June 09
Here we are, already nearly half way through the year!
Camp
Although it seems like a while ago now, the year started out very busy with our annual children's camp. It was a great experience for all of those who attended! The variety of activities offered by the camp which ranged from the water rafts, confidence course and flying fox to kayaking and archery provided challenges for us all!
A big thanks goes to all who helped to make it so enjoyable - the parent helpers, goody bag donors, staff, and of course the children who all threw themselves (often quite literally!) into the challenges that camp brought their way! If you're interested in getting involved in camp next year, please contact camp leader Nathalie on 021863670 or e-mail nathalie@burns.org.nz.
Coffee Mornings
A good turn-out of 13 enjoyed coffee and cakes at the first coffee group meeting of 2009.Burn survivors met at The Coffee Club at Sylvia Park on Sunday 8th March for a chance to chat with other burn survivors and discuss shared experiences in an informal setting.
Travelling from all corners of Auckland, the group agreed the coffee morning was an enjoyable and useful experience and further groups shall be organised to make this a regular fixture on the Burn Support Group calendar. If you are interested in being a part of the next coffee group, please call the office on 09 276 0250 or e-mail info@burns.org.nz.
Fresh look
We have continued with the development of our new look and our Education Officer is now sporting a uniform with our new logo and Mr Quick Cool on it so that she is readily identifiable in the community. Our two employee's cars have also been sign written and certainly seem to be getting a fair bit of attention as they are driving around Auckland... Hopefully Mr Quick Cool will inspire people to talk about the correct first aid treatment for burns...
Furthermore, our NEW Burn Prevention pamphlets are now available to interested community groups.
Education sessions
We have now been out to teach over 2500 children in individual class sessions at schools. With these children sharing the information they have learnt and our pamphlets back home with their family, hopefully we will begin to see less burn victims as the years go on...
If you know of any schools, community groups or early childhood centres who would like to participate in our FREE Burn prevention seminars please contact: nathalie@burns.org.nz.
Look good, Feel good day...
We are contemplating having a look good, feel good day for burn survivors interested in learning ways to camouflage their scarring with makeup. In the past when we have held such days there have been a couple of makeup reps present who can provide you with hints about how to make the most of your features by applying makeup. They usually come armed with goody bags and it is an opportunity to feel pampered for a few hours! If you would be interested in attending such a session please contact nathalie@burns.org.nz.
Go-Karting
Those over the age of 13 are invited to attend a Go Karting day on the 11th July @ 2.30pm at Go Karts @ Action Raceway, 87 Small Rd, Silverdale (next to Snow Planet). If you are interested in attending please contact Jeff Kiddell on (09) 918 4702. Burn survivors will be fully subsidized and a sibling can attend for reduced fees.
Wellness at work
This article comes from our Board member Hayden Goldsack who featured in TV1's Close Up programme about a new treatment for scar tissue...
Hi all,
Over the last ten weeks I have been having weekly sessions with Local Auckland man Chris Toal. Chris has developed a way of dealing with scar tissue that is different from methods seen previously and the results that we are getting have been described as both unbelievable and remarkable.
On Friday the 19th of June I was interviewed on TV1's Close up programme. http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/break-through-skin-treatment-2790967/video
This was followed up by Auckland plastic surgeon Martin Rees review of what was happening on Monday 22nd June.
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/s-response-burns-stone-2793244/video.
As you can see from these two clips it is completely different from anything we have seen before and in some case there is an instant result.
Generally most sessions start with a stretch of the area that is going to be worked on for approximately 15mins and then Chris goes to work on the area with the stone. These sessions can last between 30-60mins depending on the area that is being worked and my pain threshold. I have noticed not only more softness in the area that has been worked, but a change in colour of the tissue and more flexibility of the scar tissue. I was a person that hated skin grafts and from what I have seen and experienced here we may have an alternative to this now. I want to point out this is still very new and we are still unsure of the end result. Chris has the belief that he can take my scars back to the point where they look like a water mark over 18-24mths. I am not sure that this is possible but the results will be interesting.
For me it is very exciting being involved with something like this that has such huge potential. I will keep you updated as to how things are progressing in our next newsletter.
If you would like to know more, drop me an email through hayden.goldsack@xtra.co.nz and I can answer your questions.
Chris can be contacted at www.wellnessatwork.co.nz
Hayden Goldsack
A.G.M - You are all invited!!!
Last, but not least! Our A.G.M will be held on the 12th of August at 7pm in the Kidzfirst Seminar Room at Middlemore Hospital. Everyone is welcome to attend! This is a lovely opportunity to mix with people who may share similar interests/experiences and meet the people on our Board.
Newsletter contributions
If you have any comments about the contents of this newsletter or ideas for future newsletters please don't hesitate to contact nathalie@burns.org.nz
Regards,
Nathalie and everyone at Burn Support Group Charitable Trust Inc