We are thrilled to have been chosen as the charity partner for the prestigious Chasing the Fox golf event at the Royal Auckland & Grange Golf Club. With the incredible support of the organisers, Big Buddy had the unique opportunity to share our story during this high-profile event, broadcast nationwide by TVNZ.
The day wasn’t just about raising funds and awareness—it was also about creating unforgettable experiences for two of our Little Buddies. Little Buddy Jeziah and Little Buddy Alex, had the adventure of a lifetime, meeting some of New Zealand’s top personalities and sporting legends.
In an exclusive pre-game briefing with the celebrity players, the boys were invited to caddy for their teams. Jeziah was thrilled to join Team Olympics, led by Eric Murray, while Alex partnered with Team Rugby, led by Kieran Read. To cap off their day, the boys proudly presented the winners’ jackets to Team Media, featuring Dai Henwood, Mark Richardson, and Jeremy Wells.
Our Big Buddy ambassador and trustee, Grant Fox, was also on-site to connect with the Little Buddies. Grant, the father of New Zealand’s golfing sensation Ryan Fox—whose name inspired the event—was part of the excitement as players competed in a fun six-hole Ambrose format.
The special Big Buddy silent auction raised over $10,000 on the day! Adding to the excitement, we’ve since received additional memorabilia to auction off in the future, including a signed 151st Open Championship flag from Rory McIlroy, gifted to Ryan Fox especially for Big Buddy during a round at Tara Iti earlier in the week.
The celebrity lineup was nothing short of stellar, featuring All Blacks legends Kieran Read, Christian Cullen, Jeff Wilson, and Piri Weepu; cricket icon Ross Taylor; league star Awen Guttenbeil; Act Party leader David Seymour; former Prime Minister John Key; Olympic medalists Eric Murray and Tom Walsh; and media personalities Dai Henwood, Mark Richardson, and Jeremy Wells.
This event was an exciting way to round off the year. We’re already counting down the days until next year’s event—see you there!
Right now there are around 8,000 boys in New Zealand without fathers in their lives. These boys are navigating the challenges of life without the steady hand of a father to guide them.
With your help, Big Buddy can continue to match young boys with good men to offer friendship, support and a good male role model to look up to.
With 130 young boys currently on our waitlist, your support today is needed more than ever.
Your donation will help build confidence and resilience in the lives of boys whose fathers are not around.
