Pride of NZ: Charity work recognised

Pride of New Zealand Awards regional winners for Fundraiser of the Year were Ryan and Keri Topperwien. Photo / Andrew Warner

A couple who set up a charity to help families of children battling cancer after their own son lost his fight have been named regional winners of the 2015 Pride of New Zealand Awards.

Ryan and Keri Topperwien, of Whakatane, were last night announced as Fundraisers of the Year at the mid-North Island Pride of New Zealand award ceremony in Tauranga.

The couple set up Dream Chaser Foundation - A Chace Topperwien Charity - after their 3-year-old son, Chace, died almost two years ago after a brave fight with a rare form of leukaemia.

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Sue Tukaki (left) and Environment Award winner Shirley Sparks.

"We just wanted to do something in his name. He was really caring and always smiling. So we wanted to do something that would help other families."

Under the charity, the couple organise various events to raise money to help families in Ronald McDonald House, those children who are in hospital and families who have lost a child to cancer.

They work closely with local businesses, which offer services or gift vouchers to help with presents for children.

Earlier this year the charity donated 49 Samsung smart sets to Starship's Ronald McDonald House so parents staying in Auckland while their children are in hospital can keep in touch with friends and family.

They also organise events including music therapy courses and Sunshine Week - when popcorn machines and icecreams are brought into the children's hospital ward as they watch movies in a specially-made theatre.

For families where a child has died, bereavement grants of up to $500 are given out to help with costs.

Mr Topperwien said organising such events for youngsters and families was hugely fulfilling.

"We get to talk to people who are going through hard situations and we can relate to them first-hand, because it's what we went through. It is so physically and emotionally draining when your child is sick and so doing this helps us, too."

Te Puna Quarry Park founder Shirley Sparks won the environmental category for establishing and maintaining the Te Puna Quarry Park. Twenty years ago she called a neighbourhood meeting and began the massive task of rejuvenating 32ha of scrubby old quarry into a botanical gem.

Katikati community advocate Sue Tukaki won the lifetime achievement award for spending 18 years working in the community as a Maori Warden and helping troubled youths.