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An Auckland-based charity that helps stroke survivors partake in one of New Zealand’s most popular leisure activities has received a generous donation that will help the organisation continue its good work.

After scouring the country to find more than 200 people from 18 towns and 12 cities who were considered heroes of their local community, Visique wanted to further recognise the philanthropic efforts of Blockhouse Bay local Sam Benjamin, president of the Stroke Survivors Fishing Club.

Mr Benjamin founded the club in 2001 for keen anglers who have suffered a stroke.

It’s the only club of its kind in New Zealand, and its founder does not know of anything like it overseas.

“Each of our 62 practices play a vital role in their respective communities, and we wanted to recognise individuals from within those communities who were also vital due to their volunteer work or generous acts,” says Visique Blockhouse Bay optometrist Cullen Szeto. “Mr Benjamin and the work of Stroke Survivors Fishing Club stood out, so we wanted to go one step further and offer the charity a donation of $2,300 to continue its fantastic work.”

The club funds and hosts monthly fishing trips, and Mr Benjamin says the donation will be used to help fund a planned trip off the Coromandel Peninsula.

Mr Benjamin converts unwanted fishing rods so stroke survivors with limited use of their hands can work the rod and reel. He says the club is always in need of unwanted Penn reels, which are particularly suited to conversion.

Many detractors predicted the club would last only a few months, but it’s going strong nearly 12 years later. It currently has 18 members who are all stroke survivors, and members’ supporters also participate in club activities such as meetings and fishing.

As a company that bases its service on the principles of ‘care, quality and community’, Visique’s winter mission was obvious. Set out to find caring heroes in every region of the country and make them famous for their goodness and kindness to others. And after putting the word out through radio advertising and posters and word-of-mouth throughout Visique’s 62-clinic nationwide cooperative, more than 200 people were named a local hero.

They ranged from Murray Barclay, a teacher from Orewa in Auckland who has worked as a volunteer fire-fighter, to Janette Ford, a Whakatane local who goes above and beyond in her job caring for elderly residents.

Like his fellow heroes, Mr Benjamin was nominated by an admiring acquaintance, friend or family member who wanted the world to know about their chosen person’s Mr Szetosays, “This is our first local Caring Heroes campaign, and we have been thrilled by the response and by how many people are perceived as heroes by those who nominated them.

“The campaign was inspired by the many anecdotal stories we all hear about people who go out of their way to help and support others – even when it seems they are the ones most deserving of help themselves. Some people seem to draw strength from giving, and we wanted to find those people in our community and offer them a token of thanks and some recognition on behalf of the many people who benefit and draw inspiration from them.

Tags: Charity