The Rotorua community dug deep to raise money to help the family of Upper Atiamuri boy Dillon Tillemans who was diagnosed with leukaemia last month - deep enough to raise $27,000.
Dillon, 9, is a student at Upper Atiamuri School with his twin brother, Daniel, and sister Melissa, 10.
His parents Vanessa
and Michael are farmers in the area.
The 9-year-old was diagnosed with leukaemia last month and will spend the next year travelling back and forth from Rotorua to Starship Hospital in Auckland.
He will not be able to attend school as he cannot risk catching viruses.
To help relieve the Tillemans family of some stress, the school decided to hold a potluck dinner and auction which ran last Friday.
Locals from Atiamuri and surrounding communities, including Rotorua, donated many items to the auction, such as family trips, accommodation, recreational activities and farm services and equipment.
After an article in The Daily Post about Dillon, people contacted the newspaper wanting to give cheques and donate more lots to the auction.
Local author Jim Rotherham donated a few copies of his book Mainly Rural Yarns and he also planned on making a donation to the school.
Events and Venues donated a family pass to last weekend's Warriors vs Eels game, another woman brought in a horse-themed rug and another some swan plants.
Others called wanting to give cheques for undisclosed amounts of money.
There was also live entertainment on the night by Tokoroa band Hotel Joy Box.
Teacher Heidi Allen said it was a fantastic night and she was surprised to discover they had raised $27,000.
Mrs Allen said every person who attended the event was generous in one way or another.
"There was a massive turnout, the hall was packed."
A signed rugby ball from rugby legend Hika Reid sold for $680 and another bidder placed a winning bid of $780 on a Chiefs rugby shirt signed by all the players. The bidder then donated the shirt back to Dillon.
Mrs Allen said Dillon was unable to attend the event but some of his family showed up to check it out.
"They were blown away."
Her next mission is to try and get Telecom to sponsor them a wireless modem so she can teach Dillon via Skype.
