Kids Benefit To The Tune Of $30,000

Kids Benefit To The Tune Of $30,000

More than $30,000 has been raised for Christchurch children's charity The Rainbow Children's Trust during the Gardenz festival over the long weekend.

"It's a fantastic amount and we can assure all those who contributed to the fundraising that it will be very well spent," says Rainbow Children's Trust Chairperson Meri Gibson.

The fundraising started on Thursday night with a Fantastic Gala Auction, in which more than 25 items donated by local businesses and celebrities were auctioned off Ð including a garden project to be completed by Jeff Wilson with three other burly blokes. The auction and ticket sales raised approximately $30,000. The event was organised by The Friends of the Rainbow Children's Trust

Another $2,500 was raised at yesterday's Sculpture Symposium, in which a number of pieces that had been sculpted during the Gardenz event were auctioned to the highest bidder.

"It is just so inspirational that so many people Ð business owners, celebrities and Cantabrians alike Ð continue to lend The Rainbow Children's Trust their unconditional support. I'd like to give special thanks to the Dunkley's, who organise the Gardenz festival every year and never fail to impress," says Meri Gibson.

All proceeds will go to towards establishing a "Centre of Excellence", a speciality child health facility based at, or near, Christchurch Hospital Ð a cause the Rainbow Children's Trust has been fundraising towards for some time.

Meri Gibson says the fundraising helps ensure that South Island children have the very best facilities and equipment available.

"The Trust, with the help of the Canterbury public, works hard to raise money to ensure children have the best possible facilities and environment in Christchurch Hospital to enhance the wonderful work our paediatric clinicians already do," says Meri Gibson.

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