In memory of Sir Eion Edgar: leader, advocate, and philanthropist
Diabetes New Zealand was extremely sad to hear of the death of Sir Eion Edgar this week. He had been fighting pancreatic cancer since late last year.
Diabetes NZ’s patron since 2011, Sir Eion did not have diabetes himself and didn’t have any close family members with the condition. But he didn’t need a personal motivation to step up to fight diabetes.
He was deeply aware of how important it is to try and stem the rising tide of diabetes in New Zealand.
“I am passionate about trying to raise the profile of diabetes or ‘the silent assassin’, as I call it. I think we have to work hard as an organisation to raise the profile of diabetes, so more people are prepared to talk about it and to give to us if they decide they want to help a worthy project.
“I’m very concerned about diabetes. The frightening thing is the upwards trend in the disease and the consequence for New Zealand will be an astronomical increase in our health budget. My frustration is that other conditions, such as cancer and heart attacks, get good funding. But because diabetes mainly affects lower socio-economic groups, we don’t get that kind of support. That’s why we need to raise its profile.”
Sir Eion’s interest in diabetes began in 1999. He was the first person asked to join a new Diabetes Business Group set up by Paul Bowe, then Vice-President of Diabetes NZ. This interest led Sir Eion and his wife Jan, Lady Edgar, to set up the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research at the University of Otago in Dunedin. The couple donated $1 million to this diabetes centre in 2003. It is still thriving today and undertaking ground-breaking diabetes research aimed at reducing the incidence of diabetes and its complications by finding new ways to prevent and manage the condition. “Anything we can do to help reduce Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes has to be good for New Zealand.”
An active and generous supporter of Diabetes NZ, in 2018 Sir Eion raised $74,000 for diabetes in the Fitbit MoveMeant Challenge. Thanks to the many and various shoulders he tapped, countless phone calls and emails, he took the grand total raised by all the competitors to more than $81,000.
In a huge effort, Sir Eion also racked up 150,438 steps, wearing out one pair of trainers and spending late nights trekking the streets to squeeze in the extra steps and reach his goal.
He competed in the MoveMeant Challenge twice more, in total assisting Diabetes NZ to raise more than $263,000 across the three years he competed.
In 2020, his formidable networks, many friendships and the respect he has earned in the many groups and organisations he was involved with played a large part in the success of the Challengers Dinner, which raised nearly half a million dollars for Diabetes NZ.
Chief Executive of Diabetes NZ Heather Verry says she is extremely grateful to Sir Eion for his continued support.
“We are all so grateful for his work for the cause of diabetes in New Zealand. The funds he raised will go towards continuing to provide a high level of support for our community. He was an unflagging advocate for better awareness and funding for diabetes care, particularly in those communities hardest hit by this very serious condition.”
He was named New Zealand’s Visionary Leader at the Top 200 Companies awards in 2007, knighted in 2009, received the Senior New Zealander of the Year award in 2010, and was made a Distinguished Fellow by the Institute of Directors in April this year.
Sir Eion was a Trustee of the Halberg Trust, Skeggs Foundation and Patron of ShelterBox New Zealand and the Wakatipu Trails Trust. He held directorships of several New Zealand companies, and was chair of The Central Lakes Trust, The Queenstown Resort College and the Winter Games Charitable Trust. In addition to funding the National Centre for Diabetes & Obesity Research, the Edgar family also gave $1 million each to the Edgar Sports Centre in Dunedin and the Edgar Olympic Foundation.
-------