Cruz'n the Bayz secretary Leanne Tasker (left), deputy fire chief Andy Hamberger, Cruz'n the Bayz committee member Shane Tasker and Rapid Relief's Matthew Wycherley. Taine Meehan is hiding behind the cheque.
Cruz'n the Bayz secretary Leanne Tasker (left), deputy fire chief Andy Hamberger, Cruz'n the Bayz committee member Shane Tasker and Rapid Relief's Matthew Wycherley. Taine Meehan is hiding behind the cheque.
A new emergency response van for a Northland fire brigade has been partly funded, thanks to a community donation raised at a popular classic car show.
More than $8000 was raised through this year’s Cruz’n the Bayz event. The funds generated included $3400 raised by the Rapid Relief Team througha barbecue and around $5000 collected during the car show.
Cruz’n the Bayz organiser Roz Dennis said the event was designed to both showcase Northland and give back to the community.
“We bring people up to the north and take them to different areas and try to boost the local economy.”
The event has grown steadily over the past four years, with more than 230 participants registering this year and hundreds more vehicles turning up for the classic car show.
“They just do so much for the local community and because of the area that we’re in you know, they need the money to be able to work towards helping the local community.”
Part of the wider fundraising effort will also support the brigade taking part in the Sky Tower Challenge, which raises money for blood cancer and leukaemia.
“We brought the Rapid Relief Team on board this year and they had a barbecue …they are actually big supporters of local emergency crews.”
She said the amount raised for the firefighters was nearly doubled from last year’s donation.
Cruz’n the Bayz, National Street Rod Association Northland (NSRA) and the local fire service raised $5000 by gold coin entry and barbecue sales at the Kerikeri Klassic Car Show.
“Over 700 cars went through the gates. So total monies raised was $8400.″
The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) headed by Matthew Wycherley served the burger that raised $3400.
“At the end of the day that’s what RRT is set up for is to support our communities, and those in need, and especially our emergency services. And it helps us to build relationships with the emergency services, so that when there are events, they know that we can be involved and help out, whether it be civil defence or fire brigade or police service, or whoever it might be.”
It as the team’s first time teaming up with Cruz’n the Bayz and Wycherley said they will be back for the next one.
“We’ll probably put on another barbecue because we had a long line of people for quite some time, so that was awesome.”
Deputy fire chief Andy Hamberger said the contributions would go towards the cost of a new support vehicle for the brigade.
“The van, with the cost of the van and the time we kit it out with lights, sirens, radios and made it usable, it’s cost the brigade nearly $80,000. And that money will help us to put that back into our account as we’ve had to pay not all of that, but most of that out ourselves.”
He said donations like these are vital for volunteer brigades, which often have to cover significant costs from their own pockets.
