Featherston is pulling together to raise money for a local family whose 8-year-old girl is recovering from a brain tumour.
Alivia Gilbert had surgery to remove 95 per cent of the tumour, a pilocytic astrocytoma, on her February 14 birthday. She had a second operation a fortnight ago to remove a blood clot.
Mum Hannah Gilbert said Alivia had complained of headaches since she was 5, but late last year they started becoming more frequent, she began sleeping for days at a time and at one point complained her whole body was numb.
In February, a trip to Wairarapa Hospital and a CAT scan showed Alivia had fluid on her brain and she was immediately flown to Wellington Hospital.
Scans at Wellington revealed a 2cm growth and Alivia was taken to Starship Hospital in Auckland for surgery.
"It happened so fast I couldn't keep up," said Ms Gilbert.
Surgeons left 5 per cent of the benign tumour in her brain as it was too close to the part which controls her memory.
Alivia now has six-monthly scans, the last of which picked up the blood clot, and has small metal plates in her head but is otherwise healthy.
Ms Gilbert said Alivia is a changed girl; she used to have trouble remembering things and didn't enjoy school.
"She's so much happier now, where as before she didn't want to do anything, now she does. It must have just been sitting there," Ms Gilbert says.
The Year 4 St Teresa's School student is back in class, but has a lot of catching up to do. Tutoring is one of the costs organisers of the fundraiser, Auction for Alivia, are raising cash for.
Neighbour and friend Krystal Traill said the family incurred a lot of extra costs while Alivia was sick such as travel for their 3-year-old Bailey to come up to Auckland and food while at the hospital with Alivia. Lost work shifts meant the family have been left out of pocket.
More than anything though, Ms Traill said, she wants to give the family a good night out and if they can raise enough, a family holiday.
"Alivia can't ride her bike, can't go on the trampoline, she can't swim, in case she smacks her head, so just something where they can have some fun together," Ms Traill said.
The event will include a hog roast dinner, Warren Maxwell's new band Vinyl Bissons and an auction for everything from a fishing trip to food and wine.
Ms Traill said the September 1 event is being held on the same night as a fundraiser for Carterton girl Grace Yates, which was unfortunate coincidence.
Organisers wanted to include children, so are running a colouring competition which Alivia will judge.
Auction for Alivia, September 1, Anzac Hall, $25, tickets on sale from August 1 from Featherston Community Supermarket and most South Wairarapa schools.