Fun date will be deadly serious

Rory Foley is auctioning a date with himself as a fundraiser for the Rotorua Zombie Walk.

He's been dubbed New Zealand's "most eligible zombie" and now he's auctioning himself off for a good cause.

The 36-year-old Timaru man, Rory Foley, is auctioning himself off on Trade Me as a date for the Rotorua Zombie Walk on Saturday, October 26.

The prize package includes professional make-up to convert the winner from human to zombie by two well-known movie makeup artists, registration for the walk, dinner for two, and a ticket to the Halloween Masquerade Ball on the Lakeland Queen.

Mr Foley won a similar auction - and decided to gift the second ticket back. "I read up about the Brain Injury Association and it blew me away, what a great idea! We all get to have fun while raising money, it's win-win."

Mr Foley came up with the idea of running a "personal ad" to sell the other ticket.

"How many people can say, 'I'm going on a zombie date'? If I can raise more money for this great cause it makes me happy."

Zombie Walk organiser Layla Robinson was thrilled to have the opportunity to raise even more funds for her charity of choice, the Rotorua Brain Injury Association.

"Since the event began in 2010 we have donated proceeds to this organisation figuring, seeing zombies have been eating brains all these years, it's time they gave back. So our motto has always been 'giving back to brains'."

With proceeds from its three major events, the Rotorua Zombie Walk is well on its way to achieving the $10,000 fundraising goal this year.

With special effects makeup being applied by film and television professionals Jeff Flitton (Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) and Steve Hopgood (Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), the recipient will certainly look the part.

To place a bid and win a date with New Zealand's most eligible zombie, search "eligible zombie" on Trade Me.

The pre-event, Nightmare at the Museum, has already raised $2000 for the association.