Limitless hope: Lana, 9, calls for self-sacrifice

Kiri Swannell and Kevin Swannell, at the Property Brokers building in Hastings.

The generosity displayed by Limitless Hopes' Kiri and Kevin Swannell has inspired 9-year-old Lana Chrystall to launch a related cause of her own.

The Te Mata Primary School pupil has dreamt up the "One Week Self Sacrifice Challenge".

Lana's brainchild is a fundraiser for the Limitless Hope Emergency Shelter Appeal, spearheaded by Hawke's Bay Today.

The generous youngster has vowed not to buy any unnecessary items for the next seven days and is encouraging as many people as possible to follow her lead.

"For one week don't buy things you don't need. For kids this means things like treats, pocket money, a trip to the pools," she said.

"For adults this means your daily coffee, bought lunch, magazines ... anything you really don't need. Keep track of what you save and instead donate this money."

The aim of Limitless Hope is to put a roof over the heads of families and individuals who find themselves in desperate situations.

The initiative is working alongside other agencies to make a difference.

Kiri and Kevin Swannell, who run a soup kitchen from Clive Square on Monday evenings are fronting the project to build Hawke's Bay's first emergency shelter.

Property Brokers donated their former two-storey office and Relocate Homes NZ managing director Shannon Tawhiti has offered to move the building when a patch of land is secured.

However, there are still many expenses to be covered and the Swannells need to reach a Givealittle limit of $100,000 by the end of the month or else money pledged to them will be returned to the donors.

"It will go towards hire of a crane to lift the top section of the house, there's $10,000 to $20,000 of materials, there's soil testing, consents, what piles we get will depend on the land," Ms Swannell said.

"The main thing is a project manager who we may end up having to pay wages for. We need them to tell us how to get from A to B and pull together all of the volunteers."

All money raised will go towards the project and any extraneous costs that may be incurred along the way. It will be boosted by fundraisers such as Thursday's Mums on a Mission quiz night which brought in $600.

An All Blacks jersey signed by Dan Carter has been donated anonymously and will be listed on Trade Me on Monday with a $1 reserve to raise funds.

The Swannells are still looking for people willing to put their hands up to offer services and time where possible.

Said Lana, "Not everyone has a warm bed and a place to call home and this is our chance to help those families out."

The shelter is intended to give more than just temporary accommodation - it will also provide life skills and empowerment to those who use it. "The couple who are driving this project, Kiri and Kevin Swannell are passionate and experienced," Lana states on her website.

The self-sacrifice challenge idea was hers, with a little help from her Mum to research and write it up.