Members of the Bay City Rollers roller derby team
fundraising for Taradale youngster
Sadie Wells, 6.
A group of women in black and pink skated their way around Napier on Saturday, raising more than $2000 so 6-year-old Sadie Wells can watch her little sister play soccer.
When she was five months old, Sadie was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder called Lissencephally, meaning she has uncontrollableseizures, is non-verbal, unable to walk and is fed through a tube. She currently uses a wheelchair which cannot go over grassy fields or on rough terrain, which limits what her family can do together.
To help raise money for an all-terrain stroller for Sadie, so she and her family can go to the beach or spend Saturdays at the soccer field, members of the Bay City Roller Derby group rode 30km from Awatoto to Bluewater and back wearing bows, wings, and a lot of pink.
From raffles, donations, and cars who pulled up alongside the skaters to donate, Skate for Sadie organiser Dell Lennie, aka Prickly Thistle, estimated about $2000 was raised.
Sadie joined the skaters for the last leg from Sk8 Zone to Bluewater, being pushed by Ms Lennie, who has also been her carer since January. She "thoroughly enjoyed" her ride, Ms Lennie said, particularly the speed and feeling the breeze on her face.
Sadie's mother, Vanessa Jackson, said her family had been "completely overwhelmed" by the amount of support for Saturday's event.
The amount raised on Saturday will bring the family closer to the $7000 needed for an all-terrain Bingo Evolution Stroller, with additional features. Ms Jackson hopes she can buy the new chair before Sadie's 4-year-old sister Pippa's soccer season ends.
"I've got my fingers crossed that we can get this chair before [then], so Sadie can go and support her sister," she said, "Pippa is very proud of her sister ... she would like Sadie to come down to the soccer field so she can show off to her."
