Press pause on booze for Feb

For the third year running, New Zealanders are being challenged to give up alcohol for the month of February to raise money to support young people with alcohol and other drug problems.

Coordinator Jackson Wood said febfast is a good chance to push pause on alcohol after the busy summer celebration season.

Giving your body a break gives you a chance to reassess your relationship with alcohol after a season traditionally booze-soaked,said Mr Wood.

"Lots of febfasters notice the health benefits of laying off alcohol with weight loss, better concentration, and, best of all, no hangovers being reported in previous years."

The funds raised by febfast in 2013 will be used to promote, expand and enhance the Drug Foundation’s youth focused information service Get the Msg! (Get the Message), a free nationwide alcohol and drug information and advice service for young New Zealanders and their families.

"Get the Msg! provides young people with credible and factual health and safety information about drugs in a confidential way, wherever they are at any time of day,"said Mr Wood .

“An expanded youth drug information service means more young people will be getting the information they need in the way they want it, helping them to make better choices.”

Some awesome ambassadors are supporting febfast this year, including Olympic BMX silver medallist Sarah Walker, The Block winner Ben Crawford, and TV and radio host Jono Pryor.

Other awesome ambassadors include Healthy Food Guide editor Niki Bezzant, New Zealand’s funniest person Guy Williams, rugby player Scott Waldrom, songstress Maisey Rika, media personality Hamish Coleman-Ross, National MP Dr Jackie Blue, Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway, and Green MP and Co-leader Metiria Turei.

From today people will be able to register for febfast and create teams through febfast.org.nz

Febfast facts

• 2013 will be the third year the Drug Foundation has run febfast in New Zealand.
• In 2011 febfast raised $107,175 and $107,714 in 2012
• In 2012 over 650 people participated.
• The money raised in 2012 went towards supporting youth alcohol and other drug services across New Zealand.
• The money raised in 2013 will go towards redeveloping the Get the MSG! text information service. More info on Get the MSG is here http://nzdrug.org/febfastfunds 
• We have an app! 
  iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/febfast-nz/id581387020?mt=8
  Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.artez.febfestnz#?t=W10

Febfast Ambassadors

• Sarah Walker — New Zealand Olympic medal winner, BMX rider
• Ben Crawford — Winner of The Block NZ and Creative brand builder
• Jono Pryor — Radio host, co-host of Jono and Ben at 10, Husband, father, pasty, bald
• Scott Waldrom — Rugby Player for Taranaki and the Chiefs
• Guy Williams — Comedian, Writer, TV Personality.
• Niki Bezzant — Editor of the Health Food Guide, Sunday Star Times Columnist, food lover.
• Maisey Rika — Songstress, APRA nominated, and Waiata Maori Music Award Winner
• Hamish Coleman-Ross — RadioLIVE producer and host, media mercenary
• Dr Jackie Blue — National Party list MP
• Iain Lees-Galloway — Labour MP for Palmerston North
• Metiria Turei — MP and Co-leader for the Green Party.

Full bios and links to their fundraising pages are here: http://nzdrug.org/febfastambassadors