About Us
The Light For Life Charity Gala’s name derives from Diwali – the Festival of Light. The aim has always been to bring people together to celebrate this special festival, while bringing light to New Zealanders in need.
Cancer is the country’s single biggest cause of death. Most New Zealanders will have some experience of it – either personally or through a relative or friend and having this event is a purposeful way to directly benefit New Zealand charities and their patients. The donation made the Unicorn Foundation NZ in 2019 was enough to help their campaign to bring life-saving treatment to NZ for their cancer patients.
The Light for Life Charitable Trust was founded by Jatin Patel; a community-minded leader and charity gala extraordinaire. Jatin’s commitment to going the extra mile to help others is evidenced by his fundraising successes and his genuine pride in the contributions he makes. Whether he is volunteering washing dishes in the Hospice kitchen for the past 17 years, seeking sponsorship, peddling his way around the country & overseas on a bike for fundraising or arranging gala dinners, Jatin makes a difference… and he keeps doing it.
Previous fundraising donations made by Light For Life:
- August 2021 – Total funds raised $250,000 Donated $25,000 each to The Cancer Society, Child Cancer Foundation, Ghandi Nivas, Neuroendoerine Cancer NZ, Ronald McDonald House, Totara Hospice.
- July 2019 – Total funds raised $151,000 Donated $35,000 each to Ronald MacDonald House, Unicorn Foundation NZ (Neuroendocrine Cancer), Totara Hospice and Cancer Society.
- October 2017 – Total funds raised $120,000 Donated $35,000 each to Totara Hospice, Cancer Society & Starship Foundation
- October 2016 – Total funds raised $106,000 Donated $35,000 each to Totara Hospice and CancerSociety
Our Testimonials
What People Say
Government funding for our Hospice services covers roughly 60% of the actual costs of provision. Hence support from community through events like Light for Life are critical enablers for the sustainability of care and support services to patients and their families/whānau. Without events like yours, our ability to keep on making hospice happen across communities would be limited
Tina McCafferty Chief Executive, Totara Hospice
Unicorn Foundation is a small charity that is making a big difference thanks to the funding from Light for Life. Their donation of $35,000 equipped us for our successful campaign to bring the main life-extending treatment, called PRRT (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy) to Auckland last year. This is transforming the lives of patients and their families, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you Light for Life!
Michelle Sullivan Chief Executive, Unicorn Foundation NZ
The Light for Life donations have had an incredible impact for Cancer Society Auckland Northland. Your kind donations have touched every area of our work and on behalf of the New Zealanders going through cancer who we serve, thank you for being there with them.
Arron Peacock Head of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications - Cancer Society Auckland
It was a pleasure working with Jatin and the team for the Light for Life event in 2019, which raised $35,000. Thank you for choosing to support RMHC® New Zealand. This donation provides over 200 nights of free accommodation and support for families with a child in hospital away from home.
Grace Train Regional Development Advisor – RMHC New Zealand
Every week in Aotearoa, three families are told the heartbreaking news that their child has cancer. Child Cancer Foundation don’t receive any funding from the government, so we rely on the generosity of our fellow Kiwis to help these tamariki and their families. That’s why we are so grateful to be a part of the Light for Life fundraising event. Your incredible donation will ensure that we can continue supporting Kiwi children and whānau as they go through the toughest experience of their lives.
Chris Key National Partnership Manager, Child Cancer Foundation
We are so pleased to have been chosen as a benefiting charity of the Life For Life fundraising event. Thank you to Jatin and Light for Life - Your donation will be going towards the counselling cost for our Papakura home, which many families will benefit from.
Ranjna Patel Gandhi Nivas Advisory Board Member and Director Tāmaki Health
Light for Life Charitable Trust
Registration number: CC58685