Community support sends Laura Barr to Outward Bound

27 year old Laura Barr with her 4 year old daughter Asha, both are holding a portrait of Asha painted by Abbey Merson. Photo / Paul Taylor

27-year-old Laura Barr is still pinching herself as her dream to head to Outward Bound is finally a reality, thanks to the kindness of the Hawke's Bay community.

A charity dinner, auction and raffle was held Friday, August 3, to help Laura raise $5000 to get her to the outdoor venture.

Her husband Robert Barr was taken from her after a tragic work accident four years ago, leaving the 23-year-old mother and 16-week-old daughter Asha on their own.

The charity dinner was organised by Fundraising Work's Bronwyn Harman and hosted by entertainer Ali Beal at the Havelock North Community Centre.

It seemed Laura's story touched the hearts of many who turned up to support her cause and others made generous donations for the raffle and auction.

"I'm blown away," Laura said. "People definitely got amongst it with the auction and the raffle was amazing.

"I also got a surprise painting of my girl by artist Abbey Merson."

The surprises didn't stop there and Bronwyn Harman saved the best for last, announcing to Laura that Outward Bound got in touch with her mother to donate $1000 towards her trip in November.

"It was extremely overwhelming," a baffled Laura said.

"I am doing Outward Bound to prove to Asha and everyone else who has had a rough patch that challenges can be overcome if you really want it to. Things can change for the good, but you have to want it. You have to get up and look for it, ask around, get support and move forward."

Harman was equally ecstatic by the attendance and said the event created a "real sense of community".

"It was a real honor to walk alongside Laura for a short time when helping to organise the fundraising dinner.

"Literally everyone that was approached to help came on board straight away and we received significant support both financially and in donations for the auction and raffles from a large number of local people and businesses."

Harman wasn't wrong when she said a number of people came forward in different ways to champion the cause.

"The support for Laura came from many unexpected places – from Pure Catering who waived the rental on the room to Outward Bound who sent a voucher to Laura to cover some of her costs of the course, to strangers who came along or made a donation after reading the story in the paper.

"Some of the people who contacted us remembered the story from four years ago and had been affected at the time, so they were really thrilled that they were now able to do something to help."