Don't be surprised if you see people with daffodil hats trekking around Mount Maunganui today as teams of bankers do their bit to celebrate Daffodil Day.
The Tauranga ANZ bankers have pledged to help raise $1 million nationwide with a series of events - including completing 1000km around the base track of Mauao today.
Locally, the bank aims to raise $50,000 for Daffodil Day.
Teams of 10 will be running and walking until they have covered the distance.
The event is the brainchild of ANZ private banker Roger White, who pulled together a team of 15 from his section of the bank to walk 350km and raise about $15,000 for the cause last year.
"This year, we thought we'd go bigger and brighter," he said.
Mr White put the challenge out to the bank's other sections and this year's Mount challenge to raise $50,000 was born.
"There's always a focus on Daffodil Day," he said.
"It's an incredibly worthy cause and dollars that are raised are going to some fantastic causes and outcomes."
Mr White said he hoped the event would become even bigger next year.
"I'm really passionate about collaboration within the wider bank and any opportunity to spend time together is always going to be good but it's also to raise money for a very good cause."
ANZ regional manager commercial and agri for Bay of Plenty Lorraine Mapu said: "We reckon it'll take us around 5 hours with each team member doing around three to four circuits of Mauao."
The bankers will also run a fundraising barbecue and offer hot drinks, because ANZ Bank has been the principal sponsor of the cause for 25 years.
Other groups volunteering their time to help out this Daffodil day include the Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club, Tauranga Taxis, Countdown supermarket managers and Civil Defence, who all helped deliver fresh bunches of daffodils to local businesses when the Cancer Society ran short on volunteer drivers.
How to help
•People can help by sponsoring the teams with a set amount per kilometre the team completes.
•People can also provide a $10 donation and go into the draw to win the services of an Agri Manager for the day by visiting www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/Mount1000/
•The fundraising barbecue and drinks will be on offer at Mauao from 10am to 3pm.