Working the barbecue are, from left, Pukekohe whanau Nortz Astle-Harris, Dallz Martin and T Teava. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Working the barbecue are, from left, Pukekohe whanau Nortz Astle-Harris, Dallz Martin and T Teava. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Hundreds of whānau and supporters of a young Northland dad battling cancer turned out for an Easter-themed fundraiser at Kaikohe's Pioneer Village on Saturday.
The Big Bunny Easter Event featured train and pony rides, an Easter egg hunt, crafts, kai and bouncy castles, raising more than $8000 for Whitinga Harrisfrom Ōtaua, near Kaikohe.
Harris, a 31-year-old primary school teacher, was diagnosed late last year with stage four colon cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
When specialists said his best chance of more time with his sons is an unfunded drug with a $100,000 price tag, his whanau set up a Givealittle page and organised a series of fundraisers which, even before the Easter event, had raised more than $44,000.
Kaikohe girls Stacey Lawrence, 16, and Alyssa Hughes, 13, in the all-important role of Easter bunnies. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Three-year-old Cosima Timoko gets a ride on Chester the miniature pony with a little help from Alize Gregory, 14, from Caro's Crazy Critters. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Takowai Harris, from Otaua, pours a cup of creamed paua. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Kaikohe 10-year-old Lanora Ritchie-McGee poses as a giant Easter egg. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Thirteen-year-old Monique Harding-Baker from Maungakaramea cuddles a real Easter rabbit. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Nine-year-old Ngareta Martin from Pukekohe gets her nails painted by Whangarei's Lisa Bermingham while friends Payton Astle and Harleigh Bilich, both aged 8 from Whangarei, look on.
Working the barbecue are, from left, Pukekohe whanau Nortz Astle-Harris, Dallz Martin and T Teava. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Three-year-old Jahkyah Messina-Selwyn from Broadwood is transformed into an Easter bunny. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Rides on the Pioneer Village railway proved popular. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Thirteen-year-olds Alyssa Hughes (Kaikohe) and Jazelle Mokaraka (Taheke). Photo / Peter de Graaf
