Worm in the bottle

Today we went to meet Francesca, and gave her 1 bottle of tequila and 1 of Oaxaca mezcal (with a worm inside) for a petanque fund raiser tournament. Here's the media release:

MEDIA RELEASE
12 October 2007

CROSS CONTINENTAL INITIATIVE TO RAISE MONEY
FOR THE AUCKLAND DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION
AND THE NEW ZEALAND DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION

Individuals and companies from as far away as Hertfordshire, UK and Cockle Bay, Howick, New Zealand are supporting an initiative to raise money for - and increase awareness of - the Auckland Down Syndrome Association (ADSA) and The New Zealand Down Syndrome Association (NZDSA).

Hatfield, Hertfordshire-based Dave Ciano, former international petanque player, former manager of the British Petanque team and current member of Welwyn Club de Petanque in England, as well as a member of the Cockle Bay Petanque Club in NZ, is organising a Petanque competition on Saturday 17 November 2007 at the Cockle Bay club with the full support of the club

Players of all ages and levels, including beginners, will take part in an open doubles tournament, with all teams being guaranteed at least four games. The winning team will receive engraved trophies and 24 bottles of wine; there are engraved trophies and wine for the top four teams in the main event and for the top two teams in the plate event.

The game of petanque was reputedly devised in 1910, in a fishing town in Southern France and is an adaptation of Jeu Provencal, now a much less popular game than petanque. The rules of Jeu Provencal stipulate that a player has to take a run-up of one or two paces, gaining momentum before letting go of the boule. However, when one of the games most passionate players was confined to a wheel chair following an accident, his fellow villagers voted to change the rules whereby all players had to place both feet in a rough circle scratched in the dirt of about 2 feet in diameter, and take no run-up at all before throwing the boule. So they began to play ‘pieds tanques’ (in the regional dialect ‘feet together’), and thus the new game was created whereby able or disabled players could play on an equal basis.

Dave Ciano’s youngest grandchild has Down Syndrome. “My daughter Francesca Voykovich lives in Howick with her four children. The ADSA have been a great help to her, and to other families across Auckland. This competition is a way of offering people a fun day out, as well as raising awareness of DS and a few dollars for a fantastic cause.”

Companies so far supporting the day with gifts for the competition and a raffle include Sealink, Obsidian Winery, Twilight Winery, Sky Tower, Atomic Coffee, Non Solo Pizza, Basalt (Howick),The Coffee Club, Kloser Photography, Continental Express, NZ Screen Printers, Down’s Syndrome Association (UK), Special Kiwis, Peninsula Estate Wine, Howick Office Supplies, Ian Baker, Boules to You, Malone’s Irish Bar and Miro Vineyard. In addition, many individuals have donated gifts for the competition and raffle.

So what is Down Syndrome? It is a lifelong condition that delays learning and development. It is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 inside each of the body’s cells. It is a genetic accident and not caused by anything the parents may or may not have done before or during pregnancy. It cannot be cured, but the problems caused by Down syndrome can be reduced with the right help and a positive accepting attitude from others. In New Zealand one baby in 700-1000 is born with Down syndrome; that is one or more babies born each week. Down syndrome is a condition that shows no prejudice, any family can have a child with the condition.

The Auckland Down Syndrome association (ADSA) is a not-for-profit organisation. They support over 300 families within the greater Auckland region. They aim to inform and support families/whanau of people with Down syndrome; promote and advocate attitudes in the wider community; promote the rights and inclusion of people with Down syndrome; review policies and lobby government and other institutions and to promote positive public awareness through educational and media initiatives.

ADSA provide support to new and existing families. They provide ‘new parent’ packs and have trained volunteers who undertake home and hospital visits. They issue a newsletter four times a year and aim to inform people with regard to all aspects of Down syndrome, particularly education and health related issues.

Until 6th November, to interview Dave Ciano or for more information contact david.ciano@ntlworld.com or telephone 01707 884398 or 07954173268. After 8th November Dave will be in Auckland on voyk@orcon.net.nz or telephone 092724148 or 07954173268

Editor’s Notes

Venue: COCKLE BAY P.C., SHELLEY BEACH PARADE, COCKLE BAY, HOWICK, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Start: 10.00am

More about Petanque
http://www.petanquenz.com/
http://www.britishpetanque.org.uk/
http://petanque.pbwiki.com/CockleBayPetanqueClub

More about DS
http://nzdsa.org.nz/
http://www.downs-syndrome-london.org.uk/

ciao