Hamill to star at hospice fundraiser

Transatlantic rower Rob Hamill will be the speaker at this year's hospice fundraiser.

With a third of the tickets sold before they were officially released, Jan Morgan has no doubt this year's Hospice Dinner and Auction is set to make its mark.

Tickets for the event, which is a major fundraiser for the Rotorua Community Hospice, went on sale just a few days ago, with more than 100 already taken on presale.

The dinner and auction is in its third year, with Ms Morgan expecting it to be bigger and better than ever.

It is on September 12 at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, with Rob Hamill the guest speaker.

"Each year we hope to improve and last year was a sellout," she said.

Ms Morgan said she thought having the former Olympic and transatlantic rower as guest speaker would appeal to many.

"There's a lot more to him [than just the rowing].

"There is a lot of depth to this man."

She said there would be an array of auction items, with local singer Elisha Hulton and the Rotary Sunrise Rockers also performing.

Ms Morgan said the event was a chance to have a great time, while helping to fundraise for a good cause. Public fundraising is necessary because less than half the operating costs of the hospice are covered by government funding, meaning it needs to raise about $800,000 a year. Tickets are $95 each and available from the hospice shop in Eruera St and Steiners on Pukuatua St.