Christine Rankin today, formally opened up the long-awaited new health service by Challenge Trust. The name of the health service that would cater to people suffering from eating disorders is Thrive and is the outcome of an $8million deal between the Challenge Trust and the Auckland District Health Board.

The health service would provide treatment to the youth between the ages of 15-24 suffering from eating disorders. The health service would also offer both day care and residential care facilities to patients.

The Chief Executive Officer of Challenge Trust, Clive Plucknett while talking about the service, stated that such services were required in the Upper North Island region of New Zealand from a long time. People living in the region, had to go abroad to get themselves treated for eating disorders. The cost of which, both emotionally and financially, used to take a toll on the patients.

Christine Rankin, while formally inaugurating Thrive, stated that it was a stupendous honor for her to open the facility. She also further predicted that Thrive would become a world-class service provider for treating people with eating disorders. Ms. Rankin especially expressed happiness about the fact that Challenge Trust would be responsible for the facility and also lauded the spic ‘n’ span record of Challenge trust.