Major auction item for Supper Club revealed

Linley Parry, left, and Deborah Kay discuss the cruise up for grabs at the upcoming Supper Club. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

It's never a challenge to get Deborah Kay to support the Supper Club - the only tricky part is coming up with the best possible item to auction.

This year, as with the past four, helloworld Rotorua has got behind the charity event by sponsoring a major travel prize to be auctioned on the night. This time around a 14-night cruise in Southeast Asia, worth more than $15,000, is up for grabs.

Supper Club is the hugely successful fundraiser for Ronald McDonald Family Retreats on the shores of Lake Rotorua at Ngongotaha. The event will take place for the eighth time on March 8.

Ms Kay said it was such a "phenomenal event" to support - last year it raised $100,000.

She was always keen to find a prize that had "significant value" because the more people bid, the more was returned to the charity.

Ms Kay said the charity was one that "tugs at the heart strings".

This year's cruise with Holland America goes from Hong Kong to Singapore, visiting Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. It includes return flights on Singapore Airlines and one night pre and post cruise accommodation in Hong Kong and Singapore.

She said cruises were favoured because they were inclusive of food and drink, and this one travelled to some "lovely spots".

"I think it will be quite popular. The more popular the better the bidding."

Supper Club organiser Rob Parry said they were thrilled with the auction prize and the association between helloworld and Ronald McDonald Charities.

He said there were many Supper Club events and "without a shadow of a doubt" Rotorua's travel prize was "head and shoulders" above the rest.

He said the travel prize was valued at more than $15,000 and more often than not went above retail value.

"As a contributor for the family retreat, Deborah is enormous."

Tickets for the event are now sold out.