Daffodil day in Tauranga off to good start

There are some experienced operators among the hundreds of Daffodil Day volunteers out collecting around Tauranga today.

Members of the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions club have been collecting for well over a decade.

Today they are back at their two traditional sites outside Bethlehem's Countdown supermarket and Kmart.

Co-ordinator Doug Morris said 16 volunteers from the club would help with the collection over the course of the day.

He said they recently heard their sites were usually among the top fundraisers for the area, last year raising more than $2000.

"That has only made our guys, even more, invigorated to beat last year's total," Mr Morris said.

When the Bay of Plenty Times visited the Countdown collection point this morning they were on track for another great total.

Bernie Allen and Ron Stephens estimated people had donated more than $300 in the first hour.

Mr Stephens, 79, has been helping volunteer for Daffodil Day since 1990.

He lost his wife to breast cancer 16 years ago so the cause was close to his heart.

"Everybody can relate to cancer so while other collections can be a struggle this one isn't. In fact people have become more and more generous over the years."

Mr Allen, 70, said it was great to be able to help the Cancer Society.

"I've been collecting for 7 years and do it because I like to be community-minded," Mr Allen said.

Bethlehem Te Puna Lions members Bernie Allen and Ron Stephens were collecting outside Bethlehem Countdown this morning. Photo/John Borren

Teddy bears sell out - just one left in Tauranga

There's been a run on $10 Cancer Society teddy bears this Daffodil Day.

The Tauranga branch of the Society says that, based on reports from collectors, just one bear remains unsold in the district - and that's only because it is in a raffle.

Nationwide, there's barely any bears left and the website has sold out too.

So if your heart is set on Ted, stop into Tauranga Hospital and enter the Cancer Society raffle. Tickets are $2 for one and $5 for two.