BUCKET LOADS: Alzheimers Gisborne manager Tracy Robinson with Ken McFarlane, looking forward to the annual Spud in Bucket fundraiser competition. Ken is a regular at the group's Sherwood Club gatherings. Picture by Liam Clayton
BUCKET LOADS: Alzheimers Gisborne manager Tracy Robinson with Ken McFarlane, looking forward to the annual Spud in Bucket fundraiser competition. Ken is a regular at the group's Sherwood Club gatherings. Picture by Liam Clayton
Alzheimers Gisborne Tairawhiti is encouraging 400 spuds to sprout for this year's Spud in a Bucket competition but there are 200 problems.
“Every year we lose a proportion of our buckets when people don't come in for the weigh in, either because they have forgotten or their spud plant dies.There are some people who run the competition among work colleagues or family members and are happy not to compete for the prizes,” Alzheimers Gisborne manager Tracy Robinson said.
“Last year topped the number of losses with half the buckets not coming back — that's 200 lost to us. We think that was due to the uncertainly of Covid in the community and many people simply stayed at home,” she said.
With this in mind, this year the organisers have had to increase the entry fee to $15 Of that, $5 will be refunded at the weigh-in on December 3 at the Bunnings Gisborne carpark.
“We didn't want to put up the price, which may be a barrier to families to enter, but in the end the competition was starting to cost us to run it rather than being a fundraiser for us.”
Spuds and buckets will be available for pickup from August 19 at the offices of Alzheimers Gisborne at 421 Ormond Road (Gate 2, Gisborne Hospital) or on Saturday, August 20 in the foyer of Bunnings. They will also be at the Farmers' Market on September 3.
“Despite the down payment for the bucket, the competition is still great value and offers lots to be won with spot prizes on the day and barbecues, lawnmowers and children's toys for the winners in various categories.”
