Little Fighters get Z boost

Little Fighters Trust are one of four organisations in Stratford to receive a financial boost in this year's Z Petrol Good In The Hood promotion.

The Little Fighters Trust is a Taranaki based charity which supports local families where suffering a life threatening illness.

"This is can be where the child has the illness directly, or where a parent of a child has the illness, but ultimately this will impact the children," says chairman Darin West.

Darin says the trust offer help on a "needs" basis where a family in a crisis may have a specific need they would like fulfilled.

"This may be help with vehicle servicing, help with food, a property repair, a holiday for a family, toys for the kids or maybe just a little pampering".

The Little Fighters Trust has been operating for just over three years with a team of dedicated committee members and volunteers.

Darin says the trust was lucky enough to be a part of the Good In The Hood promotion last year through the Inglewood station.

"We decided to apply again because we thought that as a local charity with a local presence in the community, we would benefit from locals wanting to help us out, and as a marketing campaign for us to generate further awareness of our charity".

Darin says the trust have noticed a steady increase in the number of families within Taranaki that are seeking support of the Little Fighters.

"With Good in the Hood, we are able to provide more assistance to more local families facing the heartbreak of a life threatening illness. We also have a few projects we would like to pursue with Taranaki Base Hospital".

A big part of the charity's focus is generating awareness of the Little Fighters Trust.

"We want the eyes and ears of the community to tell us of any family that needs our help".

Darin says having the opportunity to have some time on the forecourt speaking to the community was a bonus for the group.

"We are always on the look out for volunteers, and any opportunity to gain sponsorship or funding as these are all crucial elements that allow us to exist".

The Stratford Press are running profiles on each of the four local organisations that were a part of Z Stratford's Good In The Hood promotion. See next week's Stratford Press for the next profile.