Treasure hunt for Pakistan
A special Sydney woman creates a unique fundraising event to help the victims of the Pakistan floods, DEEPA GOPINATH reports.
Meera Mehta
Have you ever watched the news, read the paper or listened to the radio delivering news about devastation that takes place all over the world and felt utterly helpless? The miners in Chile and New Zealand, the floods in China and the earthquake in New Zealand are all events that deeply struck a chord in all of us, but apart from donating a few coins to fundraisers wandering around the city, could we really have done something to make a difference?
One woman in Sydney has just shown that yes, we can all make an impact on the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.
Meera Mehta’s interest in the recent floods in Pakistan was kindled when she read about a boy in the midst of this disaster, who not only lost his father to the flood but also had to leave behind his grandmother in order to save himself. This extraordinary story of survival set wheels turning in Meera’s mind and inspired her to organise an event that would raise funds for the victims of the flood, while encouraging participants to spend quality time with their families and friends. Weeks of planning in collaboration with Team Focus International and other supporters culminated in “Fighting the Flood of Tears”, a treasure hunt fundraiser supporting Oxfam. Held at Sydney Olympic Park on November 20, the adventurous family day out attracted over 40 participants and raised $6,500 for Oxfam Pakistan Flood Appeal.
More than three months have passed since the onset of the devastating Pakistan floods and with winter fast approaching, the situation remains dire. Large areas in the south are still under water, and 7 million people nationwide lack adequate shelter. Many farmers will be unable to plant winter crops as their farmlands remain submerged or waterlogged, impacting heavily on their basic subsistence. Making matters worse, international funding has begun to dry up, threatening aid and recovery efforts.
Meera, a financial planner from Botany, was deeply distraught as she learnt more through her research of the natural disaster. “The more I read, the more affected I became,” she revealed to Indian Link. “My desire to contribute to the rescue effort by Oxfam was driven by the people of Pakistan’s urgent necessity for clean drinking water in order to stop the current spread of disease, the lack of sufficient medical facilities and the need to help farmers regain their livelihood,” she added. Meera chose to support Oxfam, an organisation which is currently active in Pakistan, carrying out emergency work in still-flooded southern areas and helping other flood-hit communities begin the process of recovery. They are reaching 1.2 million people, providing water, sanitation and distributing shelter and hygiene kits. They also distribute cash vouchers that families can use to buy food and household items, and provide winter kits for families to prepare them for the coming chilly season.
However, despite all the efforts of Oxfam, Meera and supporters of “Fighting the Flood of Tears” recognised that this is currently the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, and there is still an urgent need for funding.
The treasure hunt on a sunny Saturday in Sydney was designed like a mini Amazing Race and had participants organised in teams, travelling around Sydney Olympic Park completing challenges and activities whilst collecting points within a 2-hour time frame. This highly successful event gave Sydney-siders an exclusive opportunity to explore the entire park and provided a unique perspective on this distinct landmark.
To further promote the importance of spending time with family and friends, a BBQ lunch was available to all participants by generous businesses. The most successful ‘hunters’ were awarded trophies donated by Trophy Land, and a raffle was drawn for prizes also donated by supporters.
Feedback from participants was fantastic, as this wonderful event not only provided them with a fun day out, but also raised substantial funds to assist the flood relief efforts in Pakistan. Despite her incredible effort in organising this event, Meera humbly acknowledges the support she received. “It would not have come together without everyone’s help and participation,” she says, while thanking the companies who supported the undertaking, including Team Focus International, Westpac Bank, Bakers Delight Mascot, Bread Brassiere Botany, Cypress Lakes resort (Hunter Valley), Chinta Ria Restaurant, Ghermez Cupcakes, Imax Darling Harbour, T&G Hairdressers, Homebush Bay, Randwick Ritz Cinema’s, Trophy Land and Snowgoose.com.au.
Meera and all those who volunteered through support, sponsorship and personal time to make this event a success, are truly inspirational!
https://www.oxfam.org.au/donate/current-appeals/pakistan-floods-appeal
