Let the snow fun begin!

Wednesday, December 2

White wonderlands will snow down on thousands of Auckland children when the Big Buddy Christmas White Out ‘snows’ low-decile schools next week.

The annual event – now in its sixth year – comes courtesy of special effects expert and ex-Big Buddy mentor Jason Durey, owner of the special effects company that will foam up trees and playgrounds in south, west and central Auckland schools on December 9 & 10

Jason (42), who has three children of his own aged 11, 9 and 6, was a Big Buddy mentor to Bradley Elliott for nearly seven years before he tragically died of Rheumatic Fever complications, aged 14, in September last year.

Jason was inspired to create winter wonderlands in low-decile schools after doing it for his own children and at Bradley’s west Auckland school back in 2009.

“The kids at Bradley’s school got such a blast out it – they went ballistic - so I decided to do something for kids who don’t necessarily have a lot to cheer about at Christmas,” says Jason. “Now it’s the best day of my year! But it’s also hard going back to Bradley’s school and all the memories that holds. I do it for him.”

The ‘snow’ - safe, non-toxic, biodegradable foam - will be sprayed on playgrounds while the children are in class.

“It takes about 15 minutes to apply,” explains Jason. “When the kids come out they are blown away! Undisturbed, it can last up to six hours but with kids playing in it, I’d give it 30 minutes max!”

Snowing schools is right up Jason’s alley. His company - Film Effects Co Ltd – has worked on many of New Zealand’s major television and film productions, including The Piano; Xena; Vertical Limit; Whale Rider; Outrageous Fortune and The Vintner’s Luck.

Big Buddy is a mentoring organisation that has matched hundreds of fatherless boys with carefully-screened mentors – ordinary men who spend a few hours a week with boys who need a good man in their lives. The results are outstanding!

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