One of our youngest ever donors melted our hearts recently! At just 9-years-old, Macklin Devlin gave up receiving presents for his birthday, instead creating a gift registry with The Good Registry to raise money for Big Buddy instead. So why did Macklin decide to donate his birthday? “I wanted to help kids that don’t have …
Mum Angela Smith made a very moving speech at a recent fundraising lunch we thought was too good not to re-share. Here is an abridged version… Our stories shape us. Some more so than others and so this is me, with an openness and a few nerves, sharing our Big Buddy story with you. And …
A Mum’s story – How Big Buddy helped extend her village Read More »
Wellington Mum Kendall has kindly agreed to share her story of the difference Big Buddy has made in the lives of her two now grown-up sons Taine and Cullen. Thank you Kendall, your uplifting and beautifully written story is just what we all need right now! When my boys lost their Dad, with it, they …
When we talk to families involved in the Big Buddy programme, one thing always stands out: everyone benefits – the Little Buddy, the Big Buddy and Mum. Wellington’s Laura Virgo, Mum to Jonathan, has kindly agreed to share what her son’s relationship with his Big Buddy, Kevin Stevens, means to her. Kevin rings his young …
Recently, before we found ourselves in Level 4, our Hamilton Big and Little Buddies battled it out over laser tag! It was “game one” to the Little Buddies…but after a quick huddle, the Big Buddies took out the second game! Always a great opportunity to catch up and connect with each other, eight matches of …
This week Big Buddy celebrates an incredible milestone of 1,000 matches of boys whose dads are absent, with good guys from the community, forming long-standing supportive relationships. We spoke to one of the first Big Buddy matches who met 22 years ago and are still in regular contact. In fact, they are family. Josh Goodwin …
Nadine – An extraordinary mother and grandmother It is almost impossible to get Nadine Ledingham to talk about herself. Even for a Mother’s Day story! With five grandchildren aged two, four, nine, 10 and 17, plus her 93-year-old father living with her, Nadine isn’t used to focusing on herself. The incredibly generous and loving grandmother …
Celebrating the wonderful mums and mother figures in our community! Read More »
Three years ago, broadcaster Roman Travers jumped in his landrover for his usual Saturday ritual, which involved cruising around Auckland with his little buddy Aidan next to him, as the seven-year-old chatted away. Roman, a host for MediaWorks station Magic Radio, was used to hearing about the kids at Aidan’s school or the latest cool …
Meet Roman Travers, Host of our Next Big Buddy Banter Read More »
To most people, Dave Curran would have his hands pretty full heading the operations and finances for The Vodafone Warriors, and being a husband and a father to three school-age children. But driving along one day mid 2019, he heard an ad on the radio that awoke a long held desire to help people in …
Still time to help a boy without a dad – even while running Vodafone Warriors Read More »
Staying connected is a topic on everyone’s minds right now. In the Big Buddy village, we’re giving a lot of thought to how Big and Little Buddies continue to make meaningful connections with each other over the next few weeks. Luckily, our Big Buddies already have a wealth of ideas on how to maintain the …
Still showing up, spending time and coming back…from a distance! Read More »
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