Kidney Society Auckland supports over 1300 people with kidney failure and their families in Auckland and Northland. It provides a range of free professional support services to help people with renal failure get on with their lives and live as normal a life as possible.

The society’s main goal was to create brand awareness about these services in the Auckland and Northland regions, particularly around the appeal week in March 2009. In addition, the society wanted to raise funds from the public as it does not receive significant Government funding.

Trio Communications suggested former Auckland Blues and All Blacks winger Joeli Vidiri, whose career ended prematurely when he was diagnosed with kidney disease and placed on dialysis treatment, as a celebrity ambassador for the charity. Mr Vidiri subsequently offered his support for the society’s media relations campaign.

Media coverage was successful.  Mr Vidiri was interviewed on TV 1 Close up and stories were published in the Manukau Courier, North Shore Times,  Sunday News and Woman’s Weekly. The press release was also featured on popular websites such as scoop.co.nz, stuff.co.nz and infonews.co.nz.

Timing was also important as the society’s website was launched during the Kidney Health Week in March.

Kidney Society Auckland fundraising was successful during what was the organisation's first ever appeal week, setting the scene for a similar approach and even better results next year.

Click on the links below to see some of the media coverage

TV 1 Closeup
Manukau Courier
North Shore Times
Sunday News