Free trip for child cancer victims

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 612, 14 November 1995, Page 4

Free trip for child cancer victims

A plan to bring 25 child cancer sufferers from the Auckland area to the Ruapehu district was announced last week by the media/events team of Winning Waimarino. Team leader Jarrod Cobum said there is a very high media interest in the event, which will be held over the weekend of 16, 17 and 18 December. The children and members of their immediate families will enjoy transport to and from Ohakune on TraNZrail's Silver Fern railcar; accommodation; activities including the Raetihi Market Day and a spe-

cial Christmas party at the Powderhorn Chateau - all at no cost to themselves. "It is heart-warming to see the communities of the Waimarino pull together and give such huge support for this very important cause," said Mr Coburn. "An event like this will have an impact on the hearts of every New Zealander when they hear about it." Community spirit has been running high with the Ohakune Motel Group donating accommodation and breakfast to the 100-strong group. The bulk of funding for the event is being sought through national trusts such as the Variety Club and Ronald McDonald Charities. "At this stage, Winning Waimarino are in discussion with the Retailers As-

sociations of Ohakune and Raetihi, the Waiouru Army Museum, TraNZrail and the office of the Prime Minister," said Jarrod Coburn. "In-roads also have been made to high-profile media personalities and current affairs programmes. Talks are at a tentative stage at this point." Being so close to Christmas, an event such as this will increase visitor numbers to the area over the school holidays and hopefully negate some of the adverse publicity the Waimarino area has received as a result of Mount Ruapehu's recent eruption. "It is important we show that as a community, Waimarino has the motivation to pick itself up and promote the region to the rest of the world."