An impassioned pre-Christmas plea from a Tauranga lawyer has resulted in a gift of new bikes for more than 60 children in Cambodia.
Denise Arnold, a co-director at law firm Lyon O'Neale Arnold and founder of the Cambodia Charitable Trust, asked people to consider forgoing Christmas "stuff" in exchange for giving the gift of a bike.
Ms Arnold said she had just returned from a trip to Cambodia just before Christmas and struggled to come to terms with how much many people in New Zealand received for Christmas that they did not need, "compared to how little the people in Cambodia have".
"For children in Cambodia, a bike is not just an exciting gift, it is the key to education. Many children stop going to school because they have to walk so far," she said.
"And often they have to start walking in the dark, which puts them at risk -little children walking miles on their own."
Ms Arnold asked people who did not want to be "smothered with stuff" at Christmas to ask their loved ones to donate a bike on their behalf instead.
A total of 63 bikes were donated, valued at $5040.
"We had an amazing response and everyone who gifted a bike will get a photo of the child who received their bike," Ms Arnold said.
The Cambodia Charitable Trust was established to help children and their families escape the poverty trap through education. It supports 6000 children in 16 schools, as well as two teacher-training colleges.
To donate a bike or other item, or to find out more about the Cambodia Charitable Trust visit: www.cctnz.org.nz.