Mr Cocks said 24% of the people who used the facilities were from Otago and Southland, and two club members and their families also had used it.
''If you have someone who needs to go to Christchurch Hospital, it is a high-stress situation,'' he said.
''It is like a home away from home.''
He was so impressed by the facility, he attended a meeting about it in Queenstown.
''I thought it would be a good thing for Clinton Lions to get behind.''
He spoke about it at the Lions convention in Gore a couple of months ago and Lions Club District 202F, which encompasses 47 clubs, voted to support the charity.
Ranui House already had 26 apartments available, but the demand had meant there was a need for another 42 units.
''Ranui House is getting to the stage where they have to turn people away and that is why they are building a third house,'' he said.
Competition convener Phil Neame said they hoped to raise more than $70,000 from the event, which would also include an auction of donated goods and services.
''We have received 220 entries, although in reality we have got about 150 crops as a lot of people just make donations,'' Mr Neame said.
''Local contractors and farmers really get in behind it.''
There are fodder beet, swede and kale classes and the preliminary judging round took place last week.
Sponsor Advance Agriculture will judge the final round.
People attending the awards dinner on June 29 are encouraged to bring their heaviest swede or fodder beet bulb along.
-By Yvonne O'Hara
Southern Rural Life