Opinion: Families to benefit from great night out

The Supper Club event raised $100'000 for the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat. Photo/Ben Fraser

ROTORUA - you are incredible.

In a world that can sometimes seem a little full of negatives, an event like Supper Club comes around and manages to raise a whopping $100,000 for an amazing cause.

While the glitzy event provided a fantastic opportunity for Rotorua people to get together and have a great night out, the spinoffs will be huge.

The record amount will go towards making sure the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat at Ngongotaha can continue to help families in need. The family retreat on the shores of Lake Rotorua, while stunning, is a place none of us really wants to visit.

The families who spend a week there are those coping with the worst life has to throw at them - unwell children, the death of a parent or some other catastrophic life event. Over the past few years I've been lucky enough to interview several families who have stayed at the house and they all say the same thing - the memories created at the retreat are life changing.

The families leave amazed at the generosity of the Rotorua community - from the businesses that offer tables for the event through to those who head along and bid at the auctions. Organiser Linley Parry has spoken fondly in the past of watching frazzled families arrive at the house then seeing the different, more relaxed, more connected family walk out.

Huge kudos needs to go to Mrs Parry and husband Rob, who put many, many hours into the event.

The fact tables are snapped up so quickly shows what an important date it is in Rotorua's social calendar.

And each year it gets better and better.

So to those who went along, and the businesses that supported it, well done. And know you've played a big part in bringing a smile to a family at a time they really need it.