Hundreds help make Napier boy's dreams come true

Kingston Karangaroa -Mohi runs with the ball in a friendly game between Pirates and Tamatea rugby clubs, a fundraising event for the boy at Tamatea Park.

An 8-year-old Napier boy who has battled cancer since the age of 4 inspired his community to rally around him this weekend bringing his wish-list to reality.

After three and a half years of gruelling treatment, including a bone marrow transplant in April this year, which ended up being unsuccessful, Kingston Karangaroa-Mohi is now at the stage where there will be no more treatment.

A call for help to tick off some of the items on his wish-list was answered with enthusiasm on Sunday, said aunt Kate Frame, who organised the family-fun event.

Choppered into the Napier Pirate Rugby & Sports clubrooms at Tamatea Park, he met with hundreds of wellwishers there to join him as he knocked off one wish, to watch and play in a game of rugby.

Welcomed with a haka he followed up the rugby match with a ride on a motorbike.
Ms Frame said it was an "amazing day".

"I can't believe the Hawke's Bay support - people have given in all sorts of ways."

That included about 100 members from different local motorcycle clubs turning up to share in the experience and give Kingston a ride on a boss hoss V8 motorbike.

Participant Wayne Pomana said everyone had Kingston's interests at heart and wanted to offer their support.

Ms Frame said another highlight over the last week came when All Black Israel Dagg called Kingston and had a chat, and he made a donation to a Givealittle page raising the money to help with the wish-list journey.

As well as playing a game of rugby, something his health had never allowed him to do, the wishlist included camping and fishing, go-karting, a shopping spree and a family holiday.

Another wish to operate a digger came true when he visited Transport World Dig This and the truck museum in Invercargill this month.

It had been a long, hard road for Kingston and his family over the last few years, with the news of his non-responsiveness to treatment coming this month, Ms Frame said.

"Kingston was an energetic, cheeky, loving little boy with an infectious smile.

"Always active and busy outside playing with his trucks and diggers, kicking a ball around and on the go from morning to night."

Until one day that all stopped, and Kingston's life changed forever, when he was diagnosed with high risk T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

With Kingston's future uncertain, family and friends decided that in the face of the unknown, the best thing was to make the best of every day and help his wishes come true.