As 1 in 3 New Zealanders face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, the Cancer Society is calling on people across Aotearoa to give this Daffodil Day and help keep vital support wrapped around people and their whānau.
This Daffodil Day, the Cancer Society of New Zealand is asking people to give generously so no one has to face cancer alone.
Daffodil Day is the Cancer Society’s largest and most iconic fundraising appeal. Donations help provide practical, emotional and information support for people with cancer and their whānau, including cancer nurses and navigators, the 0800 CANCER information helpline, transport to treatment, accommodation, counselling and support groups.
For Carl Seaman from Kaiapoi that support changed everything.
When Carl was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2024, he was also grieving the loss of Carolyn, his partner of 18 years, who had died from acute myeloid leukaemia the year before. His daughters were in Australia, he had no close family in New Zealand, and he felt he had no one to turn to.
“I was just being stoic and thought, I’ll stick it out,” Carl says.
But after calling the Cancer Society’s 0800 CANCER information helpline (0800 226 237), Carl was connected with Fleur Hope, a Cancer Society cancer navigator. That connection meant someone would visit, listen, help him understand what support was available, and make sure he did not have to carry the fear, treatment side effects and grief alone.
It felt wonderful, because somebody was there. From having nobody… to have somebody who was really bothered and concerned, who you could talk to – it was wonderful.
Carl
Through the Cancer Society, Carl accessed emotional and practical support including counselling, nutrition advice, physiotherapy, transport support, rural drop-in clinics and coffee groups. Volunteer drivers helped him get to radiation appointments without the added stress of driving and parking.
Today, Carl is part of the Cancer Society whānau himself. With support from Cancer Society community coordinator Rebekah Thomas-Hiddleston, he now volunteers as an accommodation host at the Canterbury Cancer Centre, preparing morning teas, chatting with guests and helping others feel at ease.
“With Carolyn passing away, I wasn’t bothered. I was just existing,” Carl says. “I feel as if I’m living now because I’m helping people.”
Cancer Society Chief Executive Nicola Coom says Carl’s story shows why Daffodil Day matters.
“Daffodil Day is more than a fundraiser. It is the day Aotearoa comes together to show people affected by cancer that they are not alone,” Ms Coom says. “Every donation helps us wrap support around people when cancer turns their world upside down – whether that is transport to treatment, a place to stay, reliable information, emotional support, prevention education or funding vital cancer research.”
Every donation this Daffodil Day helps the Cancer Society be there for people affected by cancer. Over the past year, donations helped direct $7.25 million to vital cancer research, support 1125 volunteers to transport patients to treatment across the motu, provide more than 78,500 nights in Cancer Society accommodation, support more than 12,000 new patient referrals, and enable tens of thousands of phone, face-to-face, online and other interactions that helped people access the care and support they needed.
Ms Coom says with 1 in 3 New Zealanders facing cancer in their lifetime, the need for support is urgent and ongoing.
“Behind every daffodil is someone like Carl, Amber or Victoria – three of the New Zealanders sharing their experiences this Daffodil Day – someone who needs information, reassurance, practical help and hope. This Daffodil Day, we are asking New Zealanders to give what they can so the Cancer Society can continue to be there for the 1 in 3.”
People can donate throughout August at daffodilday.org.nz, at any ANZ branch, or to Daffodil Day collectors on Friday 28 August 2026.
