By Matthew Torbit
A ray of sunshine has glimmered for Catherine and John Gray after vandals destroyed their Papamoa home's Christmas lights which were helping raise funds for child cancer research.
The Florida Key couple have been awarded the top prize in the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas lights trail and have
decided to donate their $500 prize money to the Child Cancer Foundation.
Mr Gray said he was extremely shocked with the announcement he and his wife had won the $500 from so many other deserving competitors. He said the money was a welcome gift to the fundraising their street were doing for the Child Cancer Foundation.
However Mr Gray said neither securing of the $500 or the collecting would have been possible without the efforts of his wife and their neighbour Janice Hislop.
"They have been out there rain or shine collecting for child cancer."
About two weeks ago, Mr Gray awoke to discover his lights had been smashed and scattered on his front lawn in what he believes was a bungled night-time theft attempt.
For the past four years, Mr and Mrs Gray have adorned their Papamoa home with the sparkle of Christmas lights, with most of the street's dozen or so residents following suit.
This year, the street's residents put out voluntary collection boxes for the 400 or so people who visit the lights each night to donate to the Child Cancer Foundation.
A second place prize of $300 went to Joan Jensen of Grace Rd, while Angela and Shane Bennie of Athenree received $200 for third place.
Papamoa police are still investigating the attack on the Christmas lights which saw five other displays vandalised or taken.
Police have a description of a suspicious vehicle seen near the attacks, a silver Nissan Primera with a noisy exhaust and are keen to speak to the driver who is described as a male in his 20s.
