Sporting Icon Being Auctioned For Kids Charity

Sporting Icon Being Auctioned For Kids Charity

New Zealand sporting hero Jeff Wilson has agreed to be auctioned off to raise money for children's charity the Rainbow Children's Trust.

Organised by The Friends of the Rainbow Trust, the Fantastic Gala Auction features more than 25 items donated by local businesses and celebrities. The auction takes place on Thursday 23 October at 7.30pm in the Gardenz Marquee at Christchurch's North Hagley Park.

Jeff and three other burly blokes, complete with two bags of horse manure, have agreed to help the highest bidder with a garden project of their choice. Other items going under the hammer include a TV One Twilight Garden Party weekend package to the Ellerslie Flower Show, a cricketing feast with Black Cap Chris Harris, limited edition art donated by internationally renowned printmaker Barry Cleavin and a private cocktail party at Mona Vale.

"We are really honored that local businesses and people such as Jeff and Chris are giving their time to help such a great cause," says Meri Gibson, chair of both The Friends of the Rainbow Trust and The Rainbow Trust organisation. All proceeds will go to towards establishing a "Centre of Excellence", a speciality child health facility based at, or near, Christchurch Hospital - a cause the Rainbow Children's Trust has been fundraising towards for some time.

Rainbow Children's Trust chairperson Meri Gibson says they have to continue to fundraise to ensure that the children of Canterbury and the South Island have the very best facilities and equipment available.

"There just isn't enough money in the health funding budget to buy the kind of equipment needed to ensure that our paediatric clinicians have the very best equipment and facilities to enhance the wonderful work that they already do," says Meri Gibson.

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