Stirling Hall raises money for Manawatū Alley Cat Trust

Stirling Hall with his inspirational cat Genie.

Genie the tortoiseshell cat prefers marbles to tennis balls but like her namesake she is inspirational.

Stirling Hall received Genie for his 12th birthday last year and she inspired him to raise money for the Manawatū Alley Cat Trust.

Stirling raised $230 for the trust by running a raffle. He cut the kindling for first prize and will also load and unload a ute of firewood for the winner.

Stirling, who moved to Palmerston North in September with his family, adopted Genie through the trust.

"I did the raffle because I wanted to say thank you to Manawatū Alley Cat Trust for letting my kitten have a chance of a family."

Genie was named by her foster family after a tennis player, most likely Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard.

Stirling says Genie is shy but she does wake her family up by dropping toys, especially marbles, down the stairs of the family's Summerhill home.

"She does have good jumping ability, she jumps up high, she likes to sit in the bath," Stirling says.

"She likes to chill on my bed and in my cupboard."

Last year, Stirling was in Year 8 at Ruahine School near Dannevirke and with his classmates completed the William Pike Challenge.

The year-long challenge is a bit like a mini Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Participants need to do five off-site outdoor activities, 20 hours of community service and 20 hours of a passion project.

Organising the raffle was part of Stirling's community service; he was also a school librarian.

The education outside the classroom programme was founded by Aucklander William Pike.

In 2007, the school teacher was on Mt Ruapehu when it erupted. He was critically injured and subsequently his right leg was amputated below the knee.

For his passion project Stirling did baking and the outdoor activities included walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and visiting Sunrise Hut in Ruahine Forest Park.