Fleet of Minis in Pork Pie Run

Plans are well in hand for next year's Pork Pie Run, a bi-annual event that sees a fleet of Minis (and in 2011 a genuine Holden police car) travelling in convoy from Kaitaia to Invercargill.

The event is inspired by the iconic film, Goodbye Pork Pie, but has less to do with taunting the law than with raising funds for a worthy cause.

Next year's run, which will leave from Kaitaia on Good Friday (March 29) after assembling in the town the day before and arriving in Invercargill on April 3, will raise funds for Leukaemia and Blood and Cancer NZ.

"The reason is our daughter, Naomi, was afflicted with a blood cancer (Hodgkin's lymphoma ) in 2010, and at the time we did the last run in 2011 she was undergoing chemotherapy," Annie Hemsley (Whangarei) said.

"We were so grateful for the help we received, not only for Naomi but also for ourselves, and the support that came from the LBC group was exceptional.

"This organisation receives no government funding and relies on their fundraising efforts and the goodwill of good Kiwi folk. They are instrumental in assisting research and give hard core advice and practical support to the many people living with blood cancers.

"Today (September 15) is World Lymphoma Awareness Day, and thus we are planning to kick off our personal fundraising effort, and ask humbly for you support again," she said.

"We are hoping to have 50 Minis on the road this time, each car having to raise a minimum of $1000. Our team, Murray and I, are registered under team LLBLU."

Anyone who would like to contribute may do so via www.porkpie.co.nz (receipts will be issued by email). The site also has everything anyone needs to know about the 2013 run.