13/11/2025
💖 An Announcement from the Team at Bates Pharmacy: A Labor of Love for Aaliyah 💖
We are absolutely thrilled and deeply moved to announce the launch of our very own community cookbook, created with one precious goal in mind: to support Aaliyah, the beautiful daughter of our colleague Emma Russell, as she bravely undergoes treatment for acute leukemia.
This cookbook is more than just a collection of recipes; it is a tangible expression of our community's love, hope, and unwavering support for Aaliyah and her family.
It was truly a team effort, but we want to give a massive shout-out to the incredible drive and passion of Wendy, who championed this project from the very start and ensured it came to life. We also extend our huge gratitude to the talented Hannah Dewe for dedicating her skills to the beautiful design of the book. The recipes themselves were generously supplied by the wonderful team, family and friends, and wider community around Bates Pharmacy and Catlins Health and Gifts.
The spirit of generosity didn't stop there. We were overwhelmed and humbled to find 63 incredibly generous local sponsors who stepped up to cover all the printing and production costs. This means we can proudly donate 100% of all proceeds from the sale of the cookbook directly to Aaliyah and her family to assist with her treatment and recovery journey.
Please join us in supporting Aaliyah and family by grabbing a copy of this special book.
Books can now be purchased from Bates Pharmacy in Balclutha and Catlins Health and Gift in Owaka. $20 each - Donations are also welcome, and will go directly to the family.
Thank you to Mikayla from Storybridge Studio in Balclutha for the lovely photos below.
