Becky's house to benefit young cancer patients

Cancer victim Becky Gordon never got to see the house she inspired - the 11-year-old Aucklander died on Christmas Day, almost a month before the newly built house was to be auctioned for charity.

Today, Becky's mother, Natalie Oborne, and her 14-year-old sister, Stephanie, will visit Mt Maunganui to see the "Becky" house go under the hammer.

Project Becky was inspired by her friends, Abby and Brent Bastin, of Te Puna, 11km west of Tauranga.

They were devastated when she was diagnosed with a nasal tumour in 1999.

They wanted to do something to help sick children. With the help of their father - the owner of Tauranga company Sun Homes - they rounded up support from the community and businesses and set about getting a house built.

Proceeds from this weekend's auction will go towards the Tauranga branch of the Child Cancer Foundation and the Nikki Park Project, a Tauranga children's camp named after a 12-year-old girl who died from cancer in 1997.

Ms Oborne said Becky had expected to live long enough to see the house.

On her last visit to Tauranga, six weeks ago, Becky was not deterred when her family could not find the house after it had been moved to a new site.

She calmly said to her mother: "Don't worry - I'll get to see it in January."

Ms Oborne described the Becky house as "a fantastic community effort".

It comes with carpet, curtains, some furniture and a double garage.

The auction is due to start at 4 pm.

- NZPA