Truck day a big hit

Dennis Skedgwell, of Hastings, waiting to take children for a ride in his truck at the Mitre 10 Mega Ride in a Truck Day on Saturday. Photo/Warren Buckland

Trucks, trucks and more trucks was the theme of a family fun day in Whakatu on Saturday.

The biennial Mitre 10 Mega Ride in a Truck Day, was held at T&G Pipfruit, to raise money for Bellyful and Little Elms.

More than 200 trucks came to the event from around the country with truck rides taking place at T&G Pipfruit, as well as stationary vehicles for judging.

A cavalcade of big rigs left Napier and Hastings Mitre 10 Mega stores with children as passengers in the morning to convoy to the site in Whakatu.

Bellyful Napier branch co-ordinator Sharne Ramsay said she was grateful to be a recipient of funds raised at such a wonderful event.

The charity makes meals for mums of new babies and people with serious illnesses (or their families).

"Last year we gave 700 meals to more than 100 families in Napier."

The money raised from this event will go towards setting up the Hastings branch if they find someone willing to co-ordinate it.

The Hastings branch closed a few years ago and there had been no one able to run it since.

Running the branch would not be full time work and no experience was necessary, she said.

Hastings resident Elyse Hansen, who came to the event with her toddler and baby, said her three-year-old was having a fantastic time and had loved riding in one of the trucks.

"It's a great place and we will definitely come again. It's a great day out."

Phyllis TeRuna, also from Hastings, took her five-year-old grandson to the event so he could ride in a truck too.

"I think it's somewhere different, an activity outside what's normally happening in the community.

"It's just a nice friendly atmosphere."

Penelope Northover came to the event from Napier with her two children, aged eight and 10, who had enjoyed a truck ride and were planning on spending the rest of their time playing on bouncy castles.

"It's the first time I've been, the kids have just jumped off the truck.

"They haven't been in a truck like that before and they absolutely loved it.

"I think it's just a fantastic family fun day...a great trip out."

Little Elms provides accommodation for families of patients at Hawke's Bay Hospital so they may be close by to provide support, particularly if the patient is a child.

The event, which has been running for 25 years, had food, entertainment, prize-giving and stalls.